Dulwich Hamlet fightback earns home point but National League South drop fears still remain

BY DANIEL MARSH

Dulwich Hamlet capped a rousing fightback with a dramatic injury-time goal to salvage a point against Billericay Town in front of a record gate of 3,243 at Champion Hill.

Gavin Rose’s side rose to 15^th in the National League South standings but remain entrenched in a battle for survival as their four-point safety cushion over the relegation zone stands unchanged.

Dulwich lost Quade Taylor and Jamie Mascoll to injury in a difficult opening period, where two goals in a 10-minute spell for Billericay left the hosts with a mountain to climb.

An excellent corner from Billericay debutant Jack Paxman was powered home from close range by Joe Kizzi, before a mis-judged header back from Anthony Cook allowed Moses Emmanuel a gift of a second from eight yards.

But Hamlet produced a stirring second half performance, with a Dipo Akinyemi penalty in the 80^th minute the catalyst for a grandstand finish.

The hosts were relentless in the aftermath and got their reward after a period of sustained pressure, when Dominic Vose’s cross was flicked on by Magnus Okuonghae and in for an own goal off of the unfortunate veteran defender Lloyd Doyley in the dying seconds of injury time.