1947
Saturday, 06 September 1947
Isthmian League
 
Dulwich Hamlet
?
2 - 1
Wimbledon
Les Birkbeck

Jimmy Nash was still being selected, although it was revealed he was negotiating for a job a considerable distance away, otherwise the forward line was back to as expected, with Jim Wallis far right and Norman Smith at centre-forward. J Smith, from Reigate Priory, took Jones’ place in the half-back line.

The precision passing of the Hamlet forward line and overall superior craftsmanship of the home side was apparent from the start and caused the Dons’ defence problems throughout. It was only the brilliance of Haydock, who made many almost impossible saves, that kept the score respectable. The visiting forwards were mostly lacklustre, although that was partly due to the defence dealing with the Dulwich forwards and being unable to feed them an adequate supply to work with. Dulwich were on the attack for almost the entirety of the first half and only took nine minutes to gain the first goal, Phebey taking a pass from Brown before shooting past Haydock. The closest the Dons came in the first half was a shot from Stannard under tackle that went for a corner.

Phebey also got the second for the home team, in unusual circumstances. Digweed went to ground during a tackle and received a punch to the nose for his trouble. While still recovering he handled the ball during a scramble in the area and although Haydock got a hand to the resultant penalty kick he was unable to stop it entering the net. Wimbledon improved after this and the game was much more even, and with ten minutes remaining they were thrown a life-line when Freeman was penalised for carrying the ball too far and Stannard’s free-kick caused a scramble during which the ball was headed onto the crossbar and Birkbeck was on hand to put home the rebound. Jover had to leave the field with a split thumb that required a rush to the hospital after the game and the visitors almost took advantage to gain an unwarranted draw, both Norman Smith and Wallis going very close, but the final whistle went with the advantage still in Hamlet’s favour, their third consecutive win.