Billericay Town 1-3 Dulwich Hamlet

(Inman 9’: Akinyemi 43’, 84’, Clunis 104')

From the AGP Arena

Isthmian Premier League

DULWICH Hamlet put their off-field troubles to one side to stun Billericay Town 3-1 and hit the top of the Isthmian Premier League.

With Dulwich embroiled in a legal battle as they continue to fight for their future, there were questions about how the Londoners would fare at the league leaders.

They were largely indebted to a stunning performance between the posts by on loan Coventry City goalkeeper Cory Addai, although it was Dipo Akinyemi that scored twice goals for the visitors with a late goal for Nyren Clunis as well.

On a highly-fuelled evening that had 17 minutes injury-time, Dulwich were almost behind inside four minutes. Only the excellence of Addai kept it goalless as he denied Jake Robinson and Dean Inman in quick succession.

But five minutes later the latter was celebrating, Inman flicking in a header at the near post.

Dulwich grew into the match although it was only the fourth official’s flag that prevented Sam Deering doubling the lead as he was flagged offside.

More excellent goalkeeping from Addai frustrated Robinson but, totally against the run of play, Dulwich levelled.

Two minutes before half-time, a deep cross found Akinyemi and he powered beyond Alan Julian.

Having run themselves into the ground in the first 45 minutes, Town needed to do something special to match those levels.

And Dulwich will feel they should have forged ahead when Reise Allassani came within inches of getting on the edge of a cross, Joe Kizzi’s excellent interception keeping the scores level.

However the incident resulted in a serious looking back injury to Allassani with both sets of players going into the dressing room as the young winger received treatment in the Town goalmouth.

Following a 10 minutes interlude the game continued and Dulwich took charge. And, having created several half chances, the visitors stormed into the lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

It all came from a Town corner. Hamlet broke with the goal created by the excellent Clunis. The winger left Kizzi and Josh Urquhart for dead and has the presence of mind to square for Akinyemi to tap home from five yards.

Both goalkeepers made excellent saves as the half wore on, with Addai again the hero to keep out Billy Bricknell in the 17 minutes of additional time.

But Town were to concede the next goal. A long ball was not dealt with and Clunis punished some poor defending to round Julian and complete a phenomenal game.

Billericay Town: Julian, Kizzi, Urquhart, Inman, Swaine (Wheeler 90+10’), Deering (Hughes 53’), Modeste, Waldren, Butcher, Robinson, Cunnington (Bricknell 68’)