All square in battle of giants

By Peter Butcher

THE battle of the Ryman South giants lived up to expectations as Dulwich and Maidstone battled out an exciting 1-1 draw in front of a four-figure crowd at Champion Hill.

Nyren Clunis gave Dulwich a flying start with a third-minute goal and they had the chance to make it 2-0 late in the first half, only for Deren Ibrahim to save Danny Carr’s penalty.

That proved to be a pivotal moment on the night, and perhaps in the battle for the automatic promotion place, when Ade Olorunda levelled matters with nine minutes left.

A goalmouth clash from the game is pictured, courtesy of Stuart Tree.

So Maidstone remain three points ahead of their opponents and, although they have played one more game, their ten-goal advantage is effectively worth an extra point.

A hat-trick by Gabriel Odunaike kept Crawley Down’s play-off hopes alive with a 3-1 home win over Walton Casuals, who remain in the thick of the fight to stay up.

Odunaike scored after five minutes but Malik Ouani equalised six minutes before the interval. Odunaike struck again in the 50th minute and clinched victory with his third on 71 minutes

Leatherhead’s hopes of reclaiming a place in the top five were frustrated by a 2-2 home draw against Tooting, who went 2-0 up when Carl Wilson-Denis scored twice in eight minutes either side of the interval.

Mark Simmons replied for Tanners in the 55th minute and Tom Bradbrook’s header salvaged a point with nine minutes left.

Where next?

Admission prices for cup final ADMISSION prices have been announced for the Isthmian League Cup final, in which Concord Rangers meet Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday April 9.
It's Okay for Trawlerboys A GOAL by Erkan Okay earned Lowestoft a 1-0 victory at Kingstonian tonight (Monday) and lifted them to third place in the Ryman Premier table.

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe