Weymouth 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet: Ahkeem Rose nets brace

Rose 35, 57

DULWICH HAMLET 1

Powell 7

WEYMOUTH took back-to-back home league wins for the first time since April 2021 courtesy of a 2-1 win against Dulwich Hamlet.

The Terras had to do it the hard way, conceding after seven minutes through Johl Powell’s header.

Brad Ash saw a penalty saved but Ahkeem Rose swept home after a surging run and cross from Tom Blair.

And Rose slotted home into an empty net after Ash robbed the away defence, giving Weymouth their second victory in five days.

READ MORE: Weymouth 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet - how it happened

Weymouth manager Bobby Wilkinson kept faith with the team that began Tuesday's 2-1 win over Hampton & Richmond.

His only change was enforced, after right-back Luke Jenkins' loan deal from AFC Wimbledon came to a close.

Jamie Egan, one of three new loan signings, got the nod to come into the side in his first appearance since joining for a month from Bristol Rovers.

Fellow new loanees David Nyarko and Nahum Melvin-Lambert, from Reading, both took to the bench.

The Royals' duo were joined in the dugout by Dan Matsuzaka, Harvey Slade and Matt Buse, while Luke Nippard and Will Dawes missed out completely.

Weymouth looked to make a quick start as Ash was bundled over in the box, with nothing given, although Dulwich then began to assert themselves.

Cameron Thompson beat Zaki Oualah to a long ball only to dump his cross behind, and the Londoners only had to wait until the seventh minute to score.

Following neat build-up play on the right, Joe Felix swung a cross to the towering Daniel Mills at the back post when his downward header across goal was nodded in by Powell from two yards.

Dulwich Hamlet scored in the seventh minute through Johl Powell, out of shot (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth began to grab control of the game only to be met by robust Dulwich defence, while the visitors’ midfield exhibited the dark arts of winning cheap fouls.

From one such foul, won by Thompson off Weymouth skipper Tom Bearwish, Will Wood drilled well wide from 30 yards.

Dulwich’s intricate build-up play up front caused jitters in Weymouth’s defence but the Terras scrambled one half chance away before finally winning a foul in the Dulwich box.

Mills was the culprit, clattering into Nathan Carlyle, but Ash’s spot-kick lacked power as Charlie Grainger fell to his left to preserve his clean sheet in the 32nd minute.

Brad Ash saw this penalty saved in the 32nd minute (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth would only have to wait three minutes to restore parity as Tom Blair’s weaving run under close attention from Felix enabled him to pick out Rose who slotted home the winger’s low cross for 1-1.

Ahkeem Rose equalised three minutes after the penalty miss (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Blair then fired at Grainger following a crunching tackle from Chris Francis in the last action before the break.

Dulwich began the second half as they did the first, with greater attacking intent, Dom Odusanya volleying wide and Ronnie Vint seeing a deflected shot gathered by Oualah.

Vint was then involved in a disaster at the back for Dulwich as Ash closed him down to rob possession.

The striker had Rose in support and disguised his low cross by faking to shoot, Rose left with the simple task of finding the unguarded net for 2-1.

Ahkeem Rose, centre, is mobbed by his teammates after putting Weymouth 2-1 up (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Dulwich responded when Felix flashed a shot across the face of goal before Weymouth handed a debut to Melvin-Lambert at the expense of Francis.

Powell and Wood both unleashed powerful drives at Oualah as the Londoners came forward, but Weymouth remained a threat on the break through the guile of Ash and Rose.

Scott Rees was subbed off with an injury, Buse coming on, while Rose also appeared to pick up a knock but remained on the field of play as six added minutes were called for.

Weymouth did invite pressure as Buse saw yellow for a hefty tackle and Dulwich captain Jack Holland knew little about backheeling just wide from a corner.

Bearwish then smashed a clearance against Xander McBurnie, Oualah scampering across his line to prevent a corner.

But Melvin-Lambert won a 97th-minute free-kick to release the tension, Rose hammering into the wall in search of a hat-trick to invite the final whistle as Weymouth gained a massive three points.

Terras: Oualah, Sesay, Rees (Buse 87), Carlyle, McBurnie, Egan, Blair, Bearwish, Francis (Melvin-Lambert 70), Rose, Ash. Subs not used: Matsuzaka, Slade, Nyarko.

Dulwich Hamlet: Grainger, Wood (Owusu 89), Holland, Mills, Thompson (Krasniqi 68), Taylor, Porter, Odusanya, Felix, Powell, Vint (Blackman 61). Subs not used: Comley, Jones.

Referee: Ross Martin

Attendance: 744