East Thurrock United 3-1 Dulwich Hamlet

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League play-off final

EAST Thurrock United booked their place in the National League South as three first half goals saw off Dulwich Hamlet in the Ryman Premier League play-off final.

A brace from centre-back Rickie Hayles followed the opener from George Craddock in front of more than 1,600 people at Rookery Hill.

And although Dulwich pulled a goal back, Rocks defended manfully to win promotion to the second tier of non-league football.

Dulwich had brought an impressive travelling support from south London and they were making much of the noise in the early part of the match.

But, after a hesitant opening 10 minutes, Rocks burst into life. Craddock had already fired a warning shot with a corner that landed on the roof of the net but Dulwich didn’t heed that warning.

After 11 minutes, a corner was fizzed in and, although Higgins made a dash to the near post, the ball beat everyone including away goalkeeper Preston Edwards.

The wind was proving difficult for the Dulwich keeper to deal with, and it was little surprise the second goal came from a set piece.

A corner was flicked on at the near post and Hayles climbed highest to flick home his second goal in two matches.

Dulwich were rattled and simply could not deal with the threat from set-pieces. Hayles added a third to what had been a terrific opening 35 minutes, as he powered a brilliant header beyond the man on the line.

That goal came shortly after a serious looking injury to Sammy Knott, who was stretched off with his knee in a brace, but Dulwich responded.

Roman Michael-Percil burst through and jinked inside Ryan Sammons who brought him down in the box.

Ashley Carew’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved but Jordan Hibbert was the fastest to react and he blasted into the top corner.

That goal gave the visitors a much-needed boost before the break but Rocks were proving a formidable barrier, with Hayles and Joe Ellul excelling at the back.

The hosts would have expected a fast start to the half from the away side but they held firm in the early exchanges.

It wasn’t until the final 25 minutes that Dulwich turned up the heat, with Dipo Akinyemi’s deflected strike drifting wide before they missed a golden chance to reduce the arrears.

Matt Drage rose well but his header flashed over the crossbar from close range, while Sam Higgins shot straight at the keeper up the other end.

But Lukas Lidakevicius was largely untested in the home goal as the clock ticked down, as Rocks went on to wrap up a historic promotion.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Knott (Peddie), Ellul, Hayles, Marlow, Craddock, Higgins, Walker (Honesty), Wraight

Dulwich Hamlet: Edwards, Nelson, Brown, Dixon, Drage, Pinnock, Clunis (Murrell-Williams), Carew, Akinyemi, Michael-Percil (Moss), Hibbert (Scannell)