Dulwich Hamlet 0
Concord Rangers 0
Concord Rangers picked up their third clean sheet in four games as the Beach Boys played out a goalless draw with relegation rivals Dulwich Hamlet.
Prior to kick-off the Hamlet had only failed to score in one home game all season but Mitchell Beeney and his backline added to that tally with a resilient defensive performance that saw Rob Small's men become the first side to keep a clean sheet at Champion Hill since October.
The visitors started the brighter in South London but found themselves unable to carve out any clear cut opportunities. Lewis Manor and Ben Steward both have had tame headers saved by Aaron Jones whilst Alex Hernandez fired a couple of efforts off target.
Up the other end Dulwich also lacked creativity. A long range Joe Felix strike that had to be turned behind by Beeney was the best the Londoners could muster up.
The best chance of the half went the way of Concord after 36 minutes. Ricky Modeste cut inside from the right hand side and curled an effort towards the far corner that flew past the rooted Jones but came back off the upright - cruelly denying the Grenada international of a second goal in as many games.
The second half was much quieter in the capital. Beeney had to make a brilliant reaction save from a Conor Lawless corner early in the half but following that Dulwich didn't threaten again till late on.
With six minutes left of the second period it was the home sides turn to be denied by the crossbar. Luton Town loanee Lawless whipped a freekick towards goal that came off the frame of the goal before being cleared by Rangers.
Within a minute of this chance Dulwich should have taken the lead but some incredible defending from Manor kept the Hamlet out. Danny Mills got in behind the Beach Boys rear-guard and squared the ball across to his strike partner George Porter. Dulwich's top scorer looked certain to bag his 14th strike of the campaign with the goal at his mercy but Manor got back and his sliding challenge was enough to deny Porter and the ball went behind for a corner.
Concord had two corners in the final two minutes of injury time at the end of the game but they both came to nothing as the game fizzled out to a draw.
A third goalless draw of the campaign for Concord sees Rangers remain 22nd in the table, four points from safety with two games left to play. A share of the spoils does mean the Beach Boys are now four games unbeaten.
Dulwich Hamlet remain a point and a place clear of the drop zone as their fight for Vanarama National League South safety will go their final game of the season on Saturday. A draw for the Hamlet also increases their unbeaten streak to five games.
Small's side return to action on Thursday evening as Concord entertain a Havant and Waterlooville outfit whose playoff hopes are as good as over following Worthing's win over Cheshunt last night. Defeat on Thursday will sentence the Beach Boys to step three football and although with a draw they can still mathematically survive due to goal difference it's pretty much impossible.
Dulwich Hamlet: Jones, Ming, Lawless, Stephens, Mills, Taylor (Crichlow 62'), Blackman (Wood 78'), Porter, Woodman, Felix, Powell (Thompson 78')
Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Pollock (Wallace 88'), Monville, Hernandez (Munns 79'), Manor, Kyei (Bettamer 71'), Steward, Hudson, Modeste
By Nathan Williams
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