Tonbridge 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Match 107/16/1414 - Saturday, 18th March 2017 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 0
Dulwich Hamlet (0) 0
Attendance: 656

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/7,488

There is a line that I've used more than once in the time of this blog but it bears using again: "If you are prepared to take a point on the way in, be thankful for it on the way out."

When games are given tags towards the end of the season, "six-pointer" or "must win", I looked upon this one as "must not lose" rather than the aforementioned options. Throw in a stiff wind and a dry pitch, both sides were probably satisfied with the outcome.

Following Tuesday's Ryman League Cup Semi-Final between the clubs, Tonbridge made four changes whilst Dulwich made seven, so a very different game was only to be expected and duly materialised.

Dulwich enjoyed the advantage of the wind in the first period and duly dominated proceedings. After 11 minutes an effort from ex-Angel Nathan Green was deflected over his own crossbar by Jack Parter and Jonny Henly made the first of several ventures from his penalty area to clear. Henly is a sweeper-keeper in the modern way of goalkeeping and is proving to be very adept in the art.

After 27 minutes following a cross from Green, Dipo Akinyemi planted a header onto the top of the crossbar but overall Dulwich were restricted to very few actual shots on goal, whilst the home side failed to ask a single save out of Preston Edwards.

Taking their turn with the wind advantage, Tonbridge produced an opportunity in the opening minute of the second half but Alex Akrofi hooked the ball over the bar.

Although Tonbridge held sway in the second period they, like Dulwich in the first, found it difficult to create clear opportunities. Mitchell Nelson headed a Nick Wheeler free kick wide; and it was late in the game when Luke Blewden and Nathan Elder had headers that were easily gathered by Edwards.

For the neutral it was a game that was hardly a thrill a minute, nonetheless, it was absorbing with both defences and the elements emerging the winners.