Dulwich Hamlet 4-1 Canvey Island

Match Reoort by David Powell

Canvey Island suffered a defeat in their first away game of the season, going down 4-1 to Dulwich Hamlet at Champion Hill.

The Gulls knew they faced a stern test in South London against a side recently relegated from the National League South, and one of the early favourites for the title.
A sending off for new signing Lordon Akolbire just before half time didn’t help the cause - though they didn't go down without a fight.

An even opening 20 minutes found both sides looking to find their rhythm, with the hosts ultimately having more possession.

Their chances seemed to come and go. First, Alfie Allen tested Sam Jackson with a stinging shot in the first few minutes of the game. Then, around just over 20 minutes in, a teasing cross from Luke Wanadio picked out the towering Michael Chambers in the box, who saw his effort brilliantly cleared off the line by Sam Mvemba.

Canvey looked to hit their hosts on the counter and created a few half chances from set plays, Mason Hall twice heading wide of the hosts goal. Their regular rhythm was stiffled by an excellent home defence however, with the aforementioned Chambers sticking to Evans Kouassi like glue.

Eventually, the hosts quality would tell, and it was from a counter of their own that saw them take the lead. A clearence from the box saw the ball land to Danny Mills in midfield, an he picked out an excellent through ball to release Richard Pingling past Lordon Akolbire, allowing him to hit composed finish across Sam Jackson into the corner of the net.

Canvey could have levelled the game moments later, as Bradley Sach couldn't get the touch he desired after a flicked header from Jamie Salmon put him in on goal.

Dulwich still looked threatening on the break, with Wanadio and Pingling both looking to cut into the box, as they laid of chances for Mills, who twice come close to extending the lead.

Pingling in particular was causing headaches down the Canvey right for Akolbire, and his trickery resulted in a double booking that saw the Canvey defender given his marching orders. The first booking looked harsh, though their was little to argue for the second, with refferee Christopher Hastings having no choice but to produce the red card.

The Gulls task to get something from the match became mammoth, and they had to reorganise at half time, with Joe Paxman replacing Evans Kouassi as Brad Wellmen looked to make his side more compact.

They got off to a nightmare start however, as within 3 minutes, Dulwich had doubled their lead.
A set piece saw the ball land to Manny Parry, who had his shot blocked well by Jackson in goal, but the ball could only ricochet to Chambers at the back post, as he took advantage of the hole in the Canvey rearguard to tap home and secure the goal his performance warranted.

The Gulls haven't been ones to know they are beaten however, and they came back to life in the game as they began to ask questions of the Dulwich defence. It took them three minutes to find an answer, as they reduced the arrears.

A precise pass through pass by Elliott Johnson, playing in a more advanced midfield role, opened up the Dulwich defence and found Joe Paxman, who still had work to do as he calmly beat his marker before firing home well past Ruddy in the home goal. 1-2 now, with the Gulls suddenly in the ascendancy. Could it be a second comeback in four days?

It almost looked likely for 10 minutes, with a few corners almost catching the hosts defence cold. Conor Hubble delivered many of the chances, and almost fashioned himself a goal as he stuck a fierce shot just over Ruddy's crossbar.

However, the lightning Dulwich counter attack was always a threat and on 67 minutes, it proved it's effectiveness as Parry latched on to another cross from the flanks to get on the scoresheet and restore the hosts two goal cushion.

The game was over as a contest on 73 minutes, when a well worked move involving Kreshnic Krasniqi saw him lay off the ball Jerome Binnon-Williams, who cut inside and dinked Jackson from 12 yards, with a Canvey defender unable to find the vital touch to stop him.

The hosts had further chances, with Pingling creating the best as he twice hit wide of the target. The Gulls continued on, with Charlie Edwards and Luke Deslandes introduced, though neither could break down a well drilled home defence now firmly in their stride.

Eventually, the final whistle blew to end a difficult night for the Gulls, with the 10 men well beaten by a good home side, despite their best efforts.

They'll look to write their wrongs on Saturday, when they return to South London to play Kingstonian at Tooting & Mitcham's Imperial Fields.