RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Wealdstone 2

Dulwich Hamlet 2

Gordon Bartlett’s side barely got out of first gear in establishing a 2-0 half time lead over second placed Dulwich Hamlet, but with their opponents there for the taking they failed to up the tempo after the break and were made to pay as two quality long-range strikes saved a point for the visitors.

Stones remain 10 points clear at the top having played fewer games than all the would-be chasers.

However, while this lapse to follow those against Bognor, Lewes and Maidstone earlier in the campaign should only delay their coronation as champions you were left with the inescapable feeling a chance to clinch the deal had slipped through their grasp.

Bartlett’s team selection showed just one change from the midweek win at Lewes with Scott McCubbin slotting into midfield in place of Carl McCluskey who dropped to the bench where he took a seat alongside newly arrived Watford loanee Luke O’ Nien.

The hosts began well enough with Pett stealing possession from Hamlet captain Peter Adeniyi and releasing Elliott Godfrey down the left with just over four minutes played.

The former AFC Wimbledon midfielder crossed first time to the far post, but there was just too much pace on the delivery for the arriving Scott McGleish to make a clean connection.

More than 20 minutes passed before the next serious goal threat came via the excellent Luke Pigden’s slide rule pass to McGleish. The former Wycombe striker crossed just behind Millwall loanee Charlie Penny who could not get enough on the shot to turn it home.

Pigden’s free-kick then forced Mark Okoye to head over his own bar for a corner which Wes Parker got to first but was unable to keep his header down.

These were sporadic incidents in a cagey game where Stones seemed content to keep things compact and leave Dulwich, who were minus their midfield dynamo Erhun Otzumer to force the issue – a role into which they were unwilling to be cast.

The game needed a goal and the hosts produced it on 33 minutes when Pett’s long throw from the right was flicked on by Parker to McGleish who turned sharply to sweep the ball home.

Parker produced a great defensive header at the other end to preserve a lead which was doubled three minutes before the break with a beautifully worked goal.

Pett started and finished it, again winning the ball in the right back position before Pigden played in Penny who rolled it back unselfishly back into the run of the diminutive winger for him to finish with aplomb.

At 2-0 the champagne seemed to be on ice, but Hamlet served up a warning shot in stoppage time when the previously redundant Jonathan North showed great reflexes to parry an Ellis Green header after a cross from the left.

It was a warning which was not heeded after the break as stones failed to raise their game and show the ruthlessness which has got them to where they are this season and consequently Hamlet, who looked ripe for slaughter at the interval, inched their way back into the game.

Ethan Pinnock fired over after McCubbin was sold into trouble by first a short pass and then no shout of ‘man on,’ but it took a belter to get them back in the game on 62 minutes.

A ball in from the right found Ian Daly on the edge of the box with his back to goal. He duly laid the ball back to Tommy Kavanagh whose low drive arrowed into the far bottom corner giving North no chance.

It was the first goal stones’ rear-guard had conceded in 557 minutes of football.

McGleish came close to making it 3-1 after Ahmed Deen’s sloppy ball back to keeper Wilson came up short, but the hosts were under strong pressure now and Glen Little was called on for a cameo to try and calm nerves and get Stones back on the ball.

It gave Bartlett’s men an instant lift, winger Pett launching into a mazy run at the end of which the final ball lacked the pace to reach its intended target at the far post.

Three minutes later Little led a charge out of defence to release Pett once more. He in turn passed to McGleish whose cross found Little in the box, but he shot wide under a strong challenge which resulted in lengthy treatment for the 38-year-old former Burnley winger.

Almost playing on one leg he still managed to play in Pett a third time for a chip which Wilson did brilliantly to fingertip onto the top of the bar.

It was a pivotal moment as 60 seconds later Hamlet were level when Deen under no pressure 25 yards out unleashed a belter of a shot which fizzed past North into the corner.

Both sides might have won it in a frantic finish, Little thundering a volley wide before forcing Deen to head over his own bar at one end, while a last ditch clearance by Hammond prevented Hamlet completing a turnaround at the other.

There is barely time to pause for breath as Stones entertain Billericay tonight in a 7:45pm kick-off.