HAMLET HIT SWOOP FOR
DULWICH missed the chance to top the table when they were held to their third 1-1 draw in as many meetings with Staines already this season.
“A highly entertaining match between two of the division’s top six clubs,” was Staines boss Johnson Hippolyte’s take on this great advert for Bostik League football.
He told The NLP: “We showed great character to battle back after going behind, and young Elliot Baptiste nearly set up the winner right at the end.”
The Swans had the better of the opening quarter.
They had a penalty appeal turned down within a minute and Lewis Driver headed inches over. Ben Martin also went close with a header.
But by the interval Hamlet were dictating the play, with Nana Boakye-Yiadom and Nyren Clunis creating a flurry of chances.
The former was denied by a perfectly-timed Tyrell MillerRodney tackle, and the latter fired wide and had other efforts thwarted by Tommy Brewer and Staines keeper Liam Driscoll.
Hamlet continued their good work after the break and took two minutes to open the scoring.
Clunis won the ball in midfield, advanced down the left and netted a fine solo goal, his 90th for Hamlet, with a powerful angled shot.
Before that, Max Worsfold had tested Hamlet keeper Preston Edwards at the near post, before