Saturday's Ryman Premier action review

By David Watters

Dulwich Hamlet head into the Christmas break top of the Ryman League Premier Division table on goal difference from Hampton & Richmond Borough after both won on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

A 90th minute free-kick from Damian Scannell gave ten-man Dulwich a crucial 2-1 victory at Mill Field against Grays Athletic.

A first half penalty save from Hamlet `keeper Phil Wilson ensured there was no score in the first half. Dean McDonald then gave Dulwich the lead in the 55th minute but they were pegged back in the 67th minute by a penalty, Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson levelling from the spot. However, Scannell`s free-kick from the left deceived Gray`s keeper Lamar Johnson in the 90th minute.

Hampton won more comfortably, 3-0 at Imber Court against mid-table Metropolitan Police.

Ryman League

Ryman League

Nicke Kabamba gave the Beavers a 32nd minute lead they held at the break. Four minutes after the interval Dean Sinclair doubled the visitors` advantage from the spot and Jamal Lowe made sure with a third with six minutes to go.

Billericay Town are third, two points behind the top two but having played more games and they beat a Bognor Regis Town side who have fallen down the table to eighth.

Joe Ellul after 11 minutes and then Mike Fondop Talom right at the end of the game sealed victory for Craig Edwards` side.

It`s tight below them, with only five points separating ninth-placed Burgess Hill Town from fourth-placed Tonbridge Angels, who had to make do with a point from a 3-3 thriller at Longmead against Harrow Borough.

Tom Parkinson gave Angels a 40th minute lead that Marc Charles-Smith cancelled out right on the stroke of half-time from the spot. Five minutes after the break Josh Webb put Harrow in front and when Harry Newman made it 3-1 just eight minutes later, it didn`t look good for Steve McKimm`s side.

But inspired substitutions led to both Luke Blewden after 61 minutes – two minutes after coming off the bench – and Luke Allen on 80 minutes – 11 minutes after taking off his tracksuit – pulled Angels back on level terms.

There was a shock for fifth-placed Kingstonian, however, as they were beaten 4-1 at Kingsmeadow by mid-table East Thurrock United.

Ryan Scott gave the Rocks a 13th minute lead that Pelayo Pico Gomez levelled seven minutes later. But that`s as good as it got for K`s as Ade Yussuf four minutes after the break and then Tom Wraight and Sam Higgins in the last 10 minutes, sealed a surprisingly comfortable win for the visitors.

Wingate & Finchley moved level on point with Kingstonian in sixth after a 2-1 win at out-of-sorts Staines Town.

Billy Healey broke the deadlock to give Wingate a 51st minute lead that Luke Wanadio cancelled out after 66 minutes. That looked to have sealed a point until Tommy Tejan-Sie popped up with the visitors`s winner in the second minute of injury-time.

A first away win at Hendon keeps Leiston amongst the leading pack in seventh, the Suffolk side coming out on top in a 4-2 victory.

Two goals from leading scorer Christy Finch after 49 and 66 minutes after Gareth Heath had set the Blues rolling with an 18th minute opener. But two goals in a minute from Ben Pattie and Adam Wallace midway through the second half set up a nervous finale, Joe Francis sealing Leiston`s win in stoppage time.

Bottom-markers Lewes won in the league for the first time since September 9 with a 1-0 success against fellow strugglers Farnborough at the Dripping Pan, Phil Appiah scoring the crucial goal a minute before half-time, leaving the Rooks looking like they already need snookers to get out of the relegation zone.

Brentwood Town remain in the bottom four after going down to a similar score at Fetcham Grove against Leatherhead, whose on-loan Chris Kinnear Jnr scored the only goal in the 14th minute.

Burgess Hill stay on the cusp of the play-off battle after a 5-1 hammering of Merstham at Leylands Park.

It was a great Christmas present for Sam Gargan, who scored four times for the Hillians – Joe Keehan from the spot being their other scorer and Charlie Penny replying.

Enfield Town won the mid-table battle against Canvey Island at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.

Martin Tuohy had given the visiting Gulls a 27th minute lead but a Tyler Campbell brace after 38 and 43 minutes eventually proved enough for Town.

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Where next?

Saturday's Ryman South action review Folkestone Invicta fans will enjoy their festive season a little better after seeing their heroes beat nearest rivals Worthing on Saturday to take a massive twelve-point lead at the top of the Ryman South table, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.
Legend of the game mourned by all Corinthian-Casuals have joined the footballing world in mourning the loss of the Ryman South club's president and legend of the game, Jimmy Hill, OBE.

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