ROCKS REVIEW - Dulwich Hamlet 1 Rocks 2

Johnson’s run and shot was too much for the home keeper - and for the second week in a row, the Rocks had turned one point into three with a late strike.

Earlier Luke Nightingale’s simple finish had been cancelled out by Francis Duku’s header in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

The victory keeps the Rocks fourth at a very competitive top end of the table - and they’d have fallen to sixth had they not snatched victory. Leaders Leatherhead, second-placed Met Police, and the sides immeidately behind the Rocks, Burgess Hill and Sittingbourne, all won.

There was a combative start to the game and Michael Birmingham was bossing the midfield.

Jason Prior fluffed an early chance for the visitors when he miskicked from five yards with the goal at his mercy. Then Tim Bond saw a tremendous header shave the woodwork after he connected with a Johnson cross.

Craig Stoner then had a busy spell as Dulwich hit back and he had to be at his best to clear a dangerous cross. Soon Bond was called upon to head off the line as Sol Pinnock’s effort looked like it was going in.

Nightingale put Kane Wills through on the keeper but he over-ran the ball as the ex-Pompey striker awaited a return pass which would have meant an almost-certain goal.

James Fraser cleared a Dulwich chance off the line while Prior missed a Fraser cross as the Rocks counter-attacked.

On 25 minutes Bond’s misdirected defensive header hit his own post but Bognor were having the better of it, although Prior was being well-marshalled by big Francis Duku.

Kalvin Morath-Gibbs should have scored for Dulwich but his 15-yard shot was weak. Then Pinnock shot over with the goal gaping.

There was a lengthy hold-up when Stoner was hurt as he went down at the feet of Pinnock. He continued after treatment but was hobbling. That was a worry, with no keeper on the Rocks bench.

HT 0-0

Nightingale broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half, firing home via a slight deflection after Prior chested Fraser’s cross into his path.

Prior ought to have made it two after dispossessing the keeper but Dulwich came back into it and levelled on the hour when Duku nodded in from close range after Stoner, not at full fitness, struggled to reach a long ball in from the right.

After that Dulwich Hamlet played some neat football and the Rocks had to defend desperately at times.

When the Rocks did get forward, Fraser twice tested the home keeper from 25 or 30 yards, each effort being tipped over the bar.

But Fraser’s attempts were a warning to the hosts and the Rocks went back in front on 89 minutes - the second week in a row they had scored late in the game to go into the lead.

Johnson picked up the ball on the left, drifted in-field and when he shot from the edge of the box the keeper couldn’t hold it and it trickled over the line.

Stoner belied his injured state made a tremendous save in the final minute of injury time to preserve the three points.

FT 1-2

Rocks: Stoner, Marzetti, Crane, Fraser, Axten, Bond, Wills, Birmingham, Prior, Nightingale, Johnson. Subs: Wood, Marshall, Royce, Whitehead, Maynard.

Next up for the Rocks it’s an FA Trophy third qualifying round tie with Hampton and Richmond at Nyewood Lane next Saturday.