Dulwich Hamlet 2-0 Weymouth: Terras suffer defeat in London

Powell 66, Smith 87

WEYMOUTH 0

TEN-MAN Weymouth lost their five-game unbeaten run as Dulwich Hamlet claimed a 2-0 win at Champion Hill.

Two bookings in the first half for Tom Bearwish proved crucial as Dulwich moved ahead on 66 minutes through Johl Powell’s low strike.

And the points were sealed by Dan Smith three minutes from time after Weymouth had missed several good chances to equalise.

Coupled with Cheshunt’s shock 1-0 win at Ebbsfleet, Weymouth drop a place to 22nd.

Looking to go a sixth league game unbeaten, Weymouth were unchanged from the starting XI that began the 3-1 win at Worthing last Tuesday.

READ MORE: Dulwich Hamlet 2-0 Weymouth - how it happened

Michael Dome-Bemwin was the only player to lose his place in the 16, with Luke Nippard coming in to replace him.

Jason Matthews, Josh Oyinsan, Charlie Rowan and Matt Buse retained their places on the bench alongside Nippard.

Preparation for this game was hampered by diversions in London, putting the Weymouth coach behind schedule.

The Terras were still warming-up with kick-off pushed back to 8pm as the visitors looked to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

Play finally got under way at 8.03pm and five minutes into the game Weymouth goalkeeper Zaki Oualah was called into action, pushing away Danny Mills’ downward header.

Zaki Oualah, centre, made a number of good saves to keep Weymouth in the game (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth had to block a Jayden Clarke shot and Mills nearly connected with a Ronnie Vint cross as the visitors came under early pressure.

Vint was in full flow at the other end to repel Weymouth’s best chance of the half, Tom Blair powering a shot and unluckily seeing his goalbound effort deflected clear by Vint.

From the corner, Weymouth got several touches to help the ball towards goal but home keeper Charlie Grainger was able to catch Dan Matsuzaka’s deflected poke.

Matsuzaka headed a better chance at Grainger from Blair’s cross on 19 minutes before Bearwish earned his first yellow for a tackle on George Porter.

Dulwich began to show their physicality when Joe Felix got away with a forceful aerial duel with David Sesay, only to snatch at a big opening and bulge the side netting.

Sesay was able to continue after treatment and Dulwich came forward again, forcing a top save from Oualah to deny Felix’s rising long-range drive.

Seconds after the save, Bearwish was involved in handbags on the touchline and it came as no surprise when the makeshift right-back was shown a second yellow 11 minutes after his first.

Hamlet skipper Frankie Raymond cleverly drew a silly challenge from the ex-Eastleigh man and referee Michael Robertson-Tant had no hesitation in brandishing red.

Weymouth were forced to reshuffle the pack, sending Blair to right-back, and the winger had the Terras’ next chance only to wildly shoot into the trees behind the goal.

At the other end, Weymouth were forced to make an excellent clearance to deny Mills as the Terras reached the break at parity.

Weymouth were unchanged at the break and enjoyed the first chance of the second half when Blair’s snapshot volley whistled just wide.

In-form Brad Ash then sent his first effort of the night into Grainger’s midriff before Dulwich hit the woodwork.

Weymouth were outfoxed by a short corner and James Comley’s cross found Taylor who wobbled the bar with a thunderous header.

Bobby Wilkinson provided fresh energy in midfield by withdrawing Scott Rees for Nippard on the hour but Dulwich hit back with another opportunity for Mills.

Sanchez Ming, who grew into the game superbly, crossed for the striker but Mills’ flick scooted just wide.

However, the hosts were ahead on 66 minutes when Clarke’s nutmeg put sub Powell clean through, the forward slipping his finish through Oualah for 1-0.

Oualah had to deny Mills again and Weymouth responded by replacing the struggling Sesay, bothered by an ankle knock, for debutant Rowan.

With the game still in the balance, Raymond curled just wide and Ahkeem Rose’s attempted lob sailed over.

Dulwich did look casual at the back and Taylor was nearly caught out by Ash’s interception, the striker’s touch past Grainger just rolling out behind.

Ash wasted an even better chance on 82 minutes when he criminally failed to hit the target with a header from Blair’s pinpoint cross, the ball hitting the side of his face.

Brad Ash, bottom, wasted a big chance at 1-0 (Image: MARK PROBIN)

And the Terras were punished for their misses when Ming burst forward and squared to ex-Weymouth striker Smith for a simple tap-in three minutes from time.

Weymouth’s next assignment comes at home to Taunton Town on Boxing Day (3pm).

Dulwich: Grainger, Ming, Comley (Powell 56), Raymond, Mills, Taylor, Blackman, Porter (Smith 72), Clarke (Krasniqi 84), Felix, Vint. Subs not used: Holland, Jones.

Terras: Oualah, McBurnie, Matsuzaka, Carlyle, O'Connell, Sesay (Rowan 72), Rose (Buse 81), Bearwish, Ash, Rees (Nippard 60), Blair. Subs not used: Matthews, Oyinsan.

Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant

Attendance: 1,088