Danny Mills and David Ijaha were on target in either half as Dulwich Hamlet progressed to the first round of the Buildbase FA Trophy after a 2-1 replay win over Chippenham Town in the third qualifying round.
Gavin Rose brought Ijaha and Nyren Clunis back into his side after the 2-2 draw at the weekend, with Ben Chapman and Lewis White dropping to the bench.
The Hamlet were ahead in just the second minute. Nathan Smith crossed from the left touchline and Mills nipped in front of goalkeeper Will Puddy to head into the empty goal.
It was a scrappy contest and Christian Smith had a chance to double the lead but headed Lionel Ainsworth’s corner just wide. Puddy almost gifted the visitors a second when his clearance went straight to Ben Dempsey 40 yards out, but the goalkeeper got back to save the attempted lob.
The hosts were level in the 21st minute. After Richard Orlu gave away a foul, Dulwich stopper Charlie Grainger could only palm the ball out to Curtis McDonald who applied the finish.
Mills tested Puddy with another header before the home side had an effort disallowed.
Grainger was a half-time casualty as Preston Edwards came on in goal. Edwards had a relatively comfortable second half as Dulwich gained control of the game.
The away side had the chance to go ahead again in the 50th minute but Ainsworth struck the outside of the post before Mills headed another cross wide.
Rose’s side were applying all the pressure. Sixty-seven minutes in Ainsworth’s volley was blocked by the face of the busy Puddy and Clunis almost finished the rebound but his effort came back off the crossbar.
But Dulwich didn’t have to wait long more for what turned out to be the winner. Ijaha won possession on the left touchline before finding Dominic Vose. The midfielder switched the play to the right for Quade Taylor to lift a cross to the far post, and Ijaha arrived right on cue to volley past Puddy.
Chippenham went direct as they searched for another equaliser, but Dulwich resiliently rebuffed the hosts’ efforts, with Edwards troubled only once, in the 86th minute when he pushed away a dangerous cross.
Dulwich will face Hornchurch in the first round.
The Hamlet are back in National League South action this Saturday. They travel to Oxford City aiming for a first league win since August as they try to improve on their nineteenth-place position in the table.
Image: @Ollie_Jarman