SAD HAMLET SUFFER SECOND-HALF DISASTER
OXFORD CITY underlined their play-off credentials with a comfortable victory over Dulwich.
For the seventh league match this season there was a capacity crowd of 3,334 at Champion Hill, but the Hamlet faithful saw their favourites fail to end their hoodoo against City who have now won all six encounters between the clubs in the National League South.
The first chance fell to Dulwich when Giovanni McGregor’s free-kick into the box caused problems but Ronnie Vint’s shot at the far post was directed straight at City keeper Ben Dudzinski.
For City, an 18-yard drive from Joe Iaciofano was held by Hamlet’s Charlie Grainger. Ibra Sekajja threatened briefly as he cut inside from the right, but his run was halted by Josh Ashby, an indiscretion which earned the City midfielder a yellow card. The resulting freekick from McGregor was beaten away by Dudzinski. Iaciofano just failed to connect with a flying header from Hamzad Kargbo’s cross. Later, Sekajja went close with a near-post header from Andre Blackman’s cross.
After the interval, Zac McEachran and Iaciofano became increasingly influential as City began to gain control. Kargbo fluffed a couple of opportunities, then Reece Fleet lifted the rebound over when Grainger spread wide to deny Iaciofano.
Hamlet’s best chance during this period fell to Darren McQueen but Dudzinski made a fine diving save.
City took the lead midway through the half when McEachran moved inside from the right on to his left foot and from 18 yards drove inside Grainger’s left-hand post.
A second goal followed just four minutes later when City broke and McEachran slipped the ball aside for Iaciofano to rifle across Grainger and inside the far post.
Hamlet fought hard to overcome this double whammy, but City gave an object lesson in game management and defended solidly to prevent any alarms. Sekajja threatened briefly as he cut inside from the right, only to fire straight into the grateful arms of the well-placed Dudzinski.
At the other end, City would have increased their lead ten minutes from time had it not been for a desperate last-ditch clearance over his own crossbar by Hamlet skipper Vint.
Hamlet’s first-half promise had long since fizzled out and there was only one hint of a consolation goal just before the end.
Blackman and McQueen linked neatly on the left, but the latter’s low cross was cut out by Dudzinski.
DULWICH: (3-4-3): Grainger 7; Olomowewe 6 (Dayton 74, 6), Vint 7, Taylor 6; Higgs 6, McGregor 6, Timlin 7, Blackman 6; Sekajja 6 (Kandi 86), Mills 6, McQueen 6 (Allassani 90). Subs not used: Sterling, Ming.
OXFORD: (4-4-2): Dudzinski 6; Azare 7, Rowan 7, Kyprianou 7, Harmon 7; Owusu 7 (Coyle 84), Ashby 7, Fleet 7, McEachran 9; Kargbo 6 (Bancroft 63, 6), Iaciofano 8 (Benyon 88). Subs not used: O’Donkor, Dasilva
STAR MAN: Zac McEachran (Oxford City) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★