Dulwich Hamlet’s inconsistent start to 2022 continued as they lost 2-0 away to bottom side Billericay Town last weekend – before they went to Welling United and won 3-1 on Tuesday.
Dulwich suffered a fifth National League South defeat of the year after only three previously this season.
Billericay had won only three league games before last weekend – one of them against Dulwich – but took just three minutes to go in front through Femi Akinwande.
Disaster quickly struck again for Gavin Rose’s side when Dylan Gavin made it 2-0 in the seventeenth minute.
The Hamlet were reeling and Akinwande was inches away from adding a third a minute later.
Nathan Harness saved a deflected shot just before half-time as the visitors were fortunate to go in just two down at the break.
Billericay debutant, experienced defender Greg Halford, was forced off with an injury five minutes into the second half, but the hosts remained solid at the back.
Dulwich almost got a goal back with eighteen minutes remaining but the home side managed to scramble the ball away after pinball in the area.
Rose’s side had chances towards the end but couldn’t make the breakthrough as they stayed outside the play-off spots with 37 points from 25 games.
It was a completely different story in mid-week as the visitors went 3-0 up against the Wings through Quade Taylor’s double either side of Chike Kandi’s goal.
Former Hamlet striker Dipo Akinyemi pulled a goal back with a penalty in the 77th minute.
Dulwich are back at home for the first time in four games when they host St Albans City on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dulwich Hamlet Women defeated Aylesford 3-2 in their London and South East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division clash at Champion Hill last weekend.
The away side took the lead in the thirteenth minute when Penny Dellaway finished over Mia North.
It took just four minutes for the hosts to level as Sophie Manzi fired in from close range.
Havana McElvaine put Dulwich in front five minutes before half-time after a powerful run and shot from the edge of the area.
Ten minutes into the second half it was 3-1, as Asia Harbour Brown freed herself from her marker before clipping home.
Alex Witham gave the visiting side hope when her free-kick dipped underneath the crossbar a minute into injury-time, but Dulwich hung on.
The Hamlet are seventh in the table, three points behind Millwall Lionesses with a game in hand.
They play their last scheduled home game of the season this Sunday when Crystal Palace Development squad are the visitors to Champion Hill in the quarter-finals of the Capital Women’s Senior Cup. Kick-off is 1pm.
Meanwhile, Hannah Baptiste has been called up to the Guyana Women’s national side for their Concacaf qualifying tournament.
Baptiste was an unused substitute in their 4-0 win at home to Dominca in Group F on Wednesday.
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