Dulwich Hamlet closed to within four points of the play-offs in the Isthmian League Premier Division with a 2-0 win over play-off rivals Lewes at Champion Hill last weekend.
The hosts went ahead in the third minute in front of another big crowd of 2,973 in East Dulwich when Luke Wanadio’s corner from the left went in off Lewes’ Chris Whelpdale for an own goal.
Dulwich doubled their lead six minutes before half-time when Danny Mills beat goalkeeper Nathan Harvey in a jump to head home Craig Braham-Barrett’s cross.
Goalkeeper R’avan Constable made two good stops as Dulwich picked up back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in the league this season.
Dulwich have won seven of their last ten games, losing only one, as they move up the gears at the most important time of the season.
Hayrettin had urged his side to get out of the traps quickly after a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Whitehawk in their previous game.
“I said to them, I don’t think we started quick against Whitehawk. I said if we start quick we’ll have a chance,” Hayrettin said.
“We’ve scored a hell of a lot of goals from set-pieces. I hear them talking on the TV now about set-piece coaches. We do our due diligence ourselves, we watch other teams, we try and do things the right way and get as many points from set-pieces. It was a great ball.
“We had to play with a lot of discipline to nullify what they threw at us. I was really pleased with the lads that they played with a lot of discipline.
“Sometimes it’s not how good a team you are when you’ve got the ball, it’s how good a team when you haven’t got the ball and you’re organised and you’re resilient.
“We’ve kept two clean sheets now in two games, which is good, so I was thoroughly pleased with that side of things.
“The clean sheet is important for morale, for people to recognise how far we’ve come. Some people think Dulwich Hamlet should be doing better, but we put 25, 26 players into the melting pot, first time they’ve ever played together. So I’m very, very proud and pleased with their performance.
“Without the ball they were excellent. We showed not only can we be good at going forward with the ball, but we can also do the same without the ball.”
Midfielder Roarie Deacon made his debut after his loan move from National League South side Havant & Waterlooville. Deacon , who played in the Football League for Stevenage and Crawley Town, was in Hayrettin’sMaidstone United squad that won the National League South title in 2021-22.
Hayrettin said: “I’ve signed Roarie because I know what he can give us, I know he can give us a hell of a lot more. Roarie knows me, I’m going to be on at him all the time.
“We have good players in good positions now all over the pitch and we’ve got to push. Roarie has come in with his experience and knowledge, he helped me win the league at my previous club.
“He’s been a professional footballer and he only lives 20 minutes away, which is important. He’ll be vitally important to us to hopefully push into the play-offs.”
Dulwich travel to bottom side Kingstonian on Wednesday night.