Grays Athletic left to rue controversial decision as they go down fighting at Dulwich Hamlet

Ryman Premier Division

GRAYS Athletic went down to a highly contentious opening goal to lose at an in-form Dulwich Hamlet.

Blues went one down when Albert Jarrett fired the hosts into the lead on the hour mark, despite former Blues man Serge Makofo lying on the goal line in an offside position.

Grays were expecting the linesman to flag but it wasn’t to be and Xavier Vidal rounded off the win with a goal in added time.

In front of a crowd of 1,047, Mark Bentley’s side started brightly, with Dumebi Dumaka denied by Phil Wilson.

The striker came close again while Dulwich were denied a penalty when Luke Wanadio went over in the penalty area.

But neither side could create any clear-cut chances, with Conor Gough largely untroubled between the posts for Blues.

After the break, James Stevens shot from 35 yards into the arms of Wilson with Vidal looking lively for the hosts.

Joao Carlos and Joel Nouble linked up with the latter testing Wilson but there was nothing between the sides when Dulwich struck.

A fast break saw a cross elude Makofo but when Jarrett’s effort came back off the forward as he lay on the goal line, it was expected that the flag would go up.

But it didn’t and Grays were left licking their wounds.

Dumaka came back and saw another two efforts fly wide with Michael Abnett shooting into the side-netting for the hosts.

And the second goal came in the 90th minute when Gough could only parry into the path of Vidal.

Grays Athletic: Gough, Best-Riley, Siva, Leader, Parry, Stevens (Young), Wilson, Beaney, Dumaka, Nouble, Carlos