MATCH REPORT: Oxford City 2-2 Dulwich Hamlet

December 3, 2022

Goals from Klaidi Lolos and Tom Harrison weren't enough for Oxford City, as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Dulwich Hamlet in Vanarama National League South.

Lolos had given City the lead in the first-half before Danny Mills pounced on a City mistake to level for the visitors. City then had to come from behind after George Porter gave Hamlet the lead straight after the re-start.


Ross Jenkins made one change to the side that beat Cheshunt last Saturday, Alfie Potter came into the starting line-up replacing Josh Parker.


City started the game brilliantly and should've been ahead after only four minutes. Klaidi Lolos was played in on goal by Zac McEachran but Dulwich 'keeper Charlie Grainger did excellently to rush off his line and block what looked to be a certain goal. 


The Hoops continued to pressurise the visitors and Josh Ashby was next to try his luck. The midfielder picked up the ball from 30-yards out and sent a stinging drive towards goal which looked like it was creeping into the net. However, to Ashby's dismay, the shot crashed back off of the bar. 


Despite coming agonisingly close, City's positive start was rewarded just before the half hour mark when Klaidi Lolos opened the scoring. The striker cut-back onto his left foot inside the box, and left his marker for dead in the process, giving him the simplest of tasks to smash the ball past Grainger to make it 1-0.


City were impressive and turning on the style but in the 34th minute a series of errors led to a Hamlet equaliser. A simple ball was missed by Andre Burley and then Canice Carroll, giving Danny Mills the freedom of the RAW Charging Stadium to run in on goal and slide the ball past Dudzinski.


Half-Time: Oxford City 1-1 Dulwich Hamlet


Three minutes after the re-start, City suffered another hammer blow! George Porter evaded detection at the back post after a Dulwich free-kick was floated into the box, and the winger tapped home to turn the game on its head. 


Then, despite City's good first-half, the task became harder. The Hoops struggled to penetrate Dulwich's well-organised back line and after recent week's it looked like it could've been another 'one of those days'.


However, the team weren't to be outdone, and Tom Harrison was on hand in the 73rd minute to level the scores again. Hamlet could only partially clear the danger from a deep cross and Harrison was ready and waiting to smash the ball in from the edge of the box. It wasn't the cleanest of finishes, but he won't care! It's now two goals in as many games for the centre-half.


From then on in, the free-flowing game took a scrappy turn. Players went down with injuries, and petty fouls denied the game any momentum going into the last few minutes. City desperately looked for a winner, but couldn't find a third goal against the Hamlet, who survived to secure a valuable point in their fight against relegation. 


City, on the other hand, stretch their unbeaten run in the league to five games but will look to get back to winning ways on the road at Braintree Town on Tuesday evening.


Attendance: 411


Oxford City Starting XI: Dudzinski, Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet (C), McEachran, Lolos (Iaciofano 77'), Harrison, Potter (Parker 67'), Williams-Bushell, Carroll


Subs not used: Miccio, Rowan, Humphrey-Ewers

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