DULWICH LONDON 3 WESSEX 0

A SPIRITED display was not enough to prevent Wessex going down to a 3-0 defeat in their final game of the National League season.

Wessex, already assured of their league status for another year, continued with their policy of selecting another young squad with next season very much in mind. But the day got off to a bad start when, after being caught in traffic on the way to London, they lost half of their warm-up time.

And it was no surprise that Wessex began rather sluggish, losing the first three points.

It was not long though before setter Sophia Speigal started to link with her wing attack and both Phoebe Jeffery and Zoe McAulay scored points for the visitors.

The scoreline was then level at 10 each, and now Wessex started to gain control. Ailsa Crammond looked strong at the net while Rosie Kirk completed several big blocks.

Entering the final stages of the opening set Wessex held a slender 17-16 lead. Dulwich introduced several substitutes into the match at this stage with the sole intention of increasing the block size and the move paid off as the visitors struggled to find their way past it and the set slipped from their grasp, losing 25-21.

Set two was a similar story with Wessex matching Dulwich point for point until the latter stages while the third and final set proved to be a titanic struggle.

The Wessex coaching staff switched the middle attack around, starting Kirk at front court and Crammond at back court to combat the hosts’ blocking.

Immediately the away side looked stronger and Wessex clawed themselves into a 16-12 lead.

Dulwich then fought back through Nikki Strachan and they managed to edge 21-20 ahead.

A service error from Wessex handed another point to Dulwich before Karin Frey found her timing and smashed a brilliant cross-court winner.

At 24-24, the set was anybody’s. The teams continued to match each other point for point until the scores reached 28 apiece.

Unfortunately for Wessex it was the hosts who came through to clinch the match 30-28.

Wessex: Zoe McAulay, Ailsa Crammond, Karin Frey, Phoebe Jeffery, Sophia Speigal, Rosie Kirk. Coaches: Ian Loke, Paul Locke.