Wood survive Hamlet battle

Dulwich Hamlet 0

Boreham Wood 1

Ryman League Premier

Manager Bob Makin watched his side secure their third win over Dulwich Hamlet this season but admitted: "I am so glad that's over".

A solitary strike from skipper Garry Nisbet three minutes from time was enough to give Wood a vital win in their bid to catch table toppers Kingstonian but the success almost came at a cost.

Some ferocious challenges, particularly in the first half, left Makin hoping that his players would be able just to get through the match unscathed.

But Makin reached boiling point over one incident when Junior Samuels was scythed down by substitute Gary Hewitt when clean through on goal.

"Their player kicked him waist high. He was undoubtedly the last man but the referee just gave him a yellow card," said Bob.

"The challenge itself warranted a red card."

Wood, who had hammered Hamlet 5-1 just two days earlier and 3-1 at home last Christmas, got caught up in the "nonsense" of the opening period and Makin gave his troops a verbal lashing when they entered the dressing room at half time.

He said: "I told my players that they would be provoked and that this was something they should have expected after we gave them a tanking.

"They were just content on kicking lumps out of anything that moved. Their intentions were clear from the off, and it's not something that I like to see.

"But when you look at the type of player they have at their disposal compared to us, you could see that they needed to find another way of getting a result."

The Dulwich side showed only one change to their starting line-up from that cup defeat last Thursday, while Makin recalled seven first-team regulars to the Wood line-up.

Wood attacked from kick-off and their two wing backs, Rob Hollingdale and Dominic Grime, both got in early crosses.

An early Dulwich foray into the Wood half resulted in a cross from Dean Holness being forced behind for a corner.

Tragedy struck for Hamlet's Luke Anderson in the seventh minute when, following a clash of heads with Garry Nisbet, he fell awkwardly and had to be stretchered off the pitch. Later it was confirmed that he had broken a bone in his leg.

The game continued to be littered with petty fouls from both sides.

Wood gained two free kicks midway through the first half following fouls on Nisbet and Samuels but these came to nothing.

As the half drew to a close, Nisbet headed a Mark Brown centre just wide.

Four minutes after the restart, Wood were unlucky not to take the lead.

A Mark Brown corner was headed goalwards by Steve Daly but his effort was cleared off the line.

In the 54th minute, Daly's 35-yard screamer was deflected wide of goal.

Dulwich put Wood under severe pressure on the hour and forced a succession of corners.

Kerry Dixon came on in place of Terry Robbins after 68 minutes and it was the old campaigner that played a part in his side's late goal.

The veteran striker's flick on into the box was cleared, but the ball fell kindly for Dominic Grime.

His cross reached Nisbet, who forced the ball under keeper Darren Williams from close range.

Added Makin: "That was a real battle but we got through it. I hope we're not involved in a game like this one between now and the end of the season."

WOOD: Taylor, Daly, Sewell, Robbins (sub Dixon 68mins), Nisbet, Hollingdale, Grime, Marshall, Heffer, Samuels, Brown. Subs (not used): Hatchett and J.Shaw.

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