Dulwich Hamlet’s fight for National League South survival will go to the last day of the season after their 0-0 draw against Concord Rangers at Champion Hill on Tuesday.
Hakan Hayrettin’s side are one place above the relegation zone, three points ahead of Weymouth who have a significantly better goal difference of plus-six.
Concord are a place and a point further back, but they can move to within a point of Dulwich if they win their game in hand at home to Havant & Waterlooville on Thursday.
If Rangers win, then Dulwich have to beat Chippenham Town, who have little to play for, at home this Saturday to be sure of avoiding the drop without having to worry about results elsewhere.
The Hamlet had taken one of their rivals out of the equation in an action-packed game at Hungerford Town last Saturday.
George Porter’s 88th-minute goal helped Dulwich to a 1-1 draw which meant the hosts were the first team of four to be relegated this season.
The Crusaders had been reduced to ten men in the fifteenth minute when Louis McGrory was given a straight red card but the home side went ahead through Dan Roberts after the break.
It was nine versus ten after Porter’s leveller following red cards for the Hamlet’s Gianni Critchlow and Hungerford’s Curtis Angell.
Porter was the fourth player to receive his marching orders in a chaotic finale when he was dismissed for dissent ten minutes into eleven minutes of added-time.
Dulwich were without Hayrettin for those relegation six-pointers, with assistant manager Terry Harris taking charge.
The Hamlet explained Hayrettin’s absence ahead of the Hungerford fixture.
“We are sad to report that our men’s first team manager Hakan Hayrettin has had to take a leave of absence due to a family emergency,” the club said.
“Dulwich Hamlet is a family and anyone involved with the club knows how strongly that belief extends to us supporting their own families. Whatever our circumstances our priority is Hakan and his family and they are foremost in our thoughts and we ask you to join us in sending your best wishes at this difficult time.
“Hakan has done an amazing job not only of reversing our decline but leaving us in the position where our future is in our hands [before the draw against Concord].”
Go to southwarknews.co.uk after Concord’s game this Thursday to find out what Dulwich will need to do this weekend to stay in the sixth tier.
Kick-off at a Champion Hill on Saturday is at 3pm.
Image: @robavis