Dulwich Hamlet 1-0 Kingstonian
CHRIS DICKS-ON K'S

Nine games without a win, a trip to league leaders Dulwich Hamlet was not exactly good timing for K's and despite a performance that was generally regarded as an improvement, they succumbed to a single goal by the prolific Chris Dickson.

With Dean Lodge, Danny Morris and Mazin Ahmad all confirmed to have departed K's, ex-player Gary Drewett became the latest to step inside Stuart McIntyre's revolving door. He was unable to help his new side get back to winning ways though as they were outplayed in the first half and failed to beat debutant 'keeper Ricky Millard in the second despite fashioning some chances.

Dickson, who now boasts a remarkable 23 goals already this term, and Phil Williams caused the bulk of K's early problems. Luke Garrard made a number of fine saves from both as Hamlet attacked with pace and vigour leaving Garrard oft-exposed despite some fine interventions from Julian Sills and the increasingly impressive Jamie Jarvis.

K's on the other hand failed to have a meaningful shot until the thirty-second minute, when Adolph Amoako put Tony Reid through on goal but after being slow to control the ball he had to shoot from distance and missed the target.

Millard had been lacking match practice and it showed in his kicking, which in the first half was very poor and would prove the major source of Kingstonian chances. After the goalkeeper totally miscontrolled an aimless punt toward the corner flag, Reid dispossessed him but was unable to find either the net or Amoako in the middle, his effort from a tight angle hitting the outside of the post and going wide.

Shortly afterwards a goal kick went out of play at almost ninety degrees. From the resulting throw-in, Millard missed Asher Hudson's cross and after throwing himself at the ball, Jarvis was unlucky to not quite make contact. Millard saved well two minutes later though when one-on-one with Reid and the last major event of the half was a dreadful tackle by Sills on Shaun Beveney, for which he was arguably lucky to only be booked.

After the interval Millard made a good save from a Martyn Lee longshot but eventually the pace of Dickson proved too much for K's. He sliced the defence open with a fine run and with the outside of his right boot knocked the ball past the advancing Garrard. Steve Potterill chased back in vain and the ball rolled in off the post to give Hamlet a lead they never truly looked like surrendering.

Drewett volleyed wide after Justin Roberts' headed clearance only reached the edge of the box and Lewis Tozer cleared off the line after Millard's punch reached only Jarvis on the penalty spot. Sills had the chance to turn Jarvis' shot in, but he realised he was in an offside position and had to agonisingly leave the ball to avoid interfering with play.

Hamlet pushed for a second and Garrard made another fine save with his legs after Williams and Dickson had linked up well again, while for K's Boosey shot wide.

The biggest excitement for K's fans was undoubtedly the introduction of the legendary Dave Leworthy on eighty minutes. The striker, a veteran of two successful FA Trophy campaigns, looked a class apart in terms of his touch and skill and a deft chip almost brought an equaliser four minutes from time.

Garrard came up for a later corner but K's could not find the net and almost conceded a second as Dickson broke but neither he nor Beveney could quite find the net as K's defence recovered.

At the final whistle a number of fans called for the head of the under-pressure McIntyre - the performance may have been somewhat improved against a tough team but results are not improving. Next Saturday's game against Molesey, where K's will be facing a number of the players deemed to not be good enough by McIntyre and his predecessor Ian McDonald, may well determine his future in the manager's role.