Non-league round-up: Dulwich secure Isthmian League Premier Division status & Cray Valley confirm play-off spot

Dulwich Hamlet secured their Isthmian League Premier Division status after a 2-1 home win against Canvey Island over the Easter weekend.

The Hamlet’s win moved them clear of the bottom four, with Hendon, Hastings United, Bognor Regis Town and Bowers & Pitsea all going down.

Amaru Kaunda and Luke Wandadio both found the net as Bradley Quinton completed his task of keeping the Champion Hill-based side in the division.

“Emotions are really high today,” said Quinton.

“The objective was to keep this club where we are and now progress for next season.

“That’s the ambition on what we need to do and focus on. The boys really dug in and put something in that people should be proud of.

“The club deserves to be higher than it is. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do, and that’s what we’ve done over recent weeks.

“We deserve everything that we got from that game today. Whatever was thrown at us, we didn’t hide and we delivered.

“What has been thrown at me this season is something that some managers wouldn’t want to be part of.

“But it’s something that has made me stronger and made me understand the club more. It’s been hard but I don’t hide. 

“We need to build on and understand that. We work so hard and this is such a learning curve.”

The Hamlet suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at Carshalton on Easter Monday but their league status was already confirmed.

They host Chatham Town tomorrow in their final game of the season.

Welling United’s relegation from National League South was sealed as they lost 4-0 at home to Maidstone United on Good Friday.

Interim boss Brian Statham was unable to change the fortunes of the Wings after Rod Stringer was sacked in the middle of March.

The Wings will now compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division next season and will look to bounce back at the first time of asking.

“It’s really tough to take,” said Statham.

“I do believe that with eight games to go, we could have got out of it. We’ve had enough opportunities and shown on two or three occasions that there was enough quality in the team.

“This is a culmination of four or five years. It’s come around this time and it’s not been possible to resurrect.

“We had to work towards scenarios for staying up and going down. That process has already started.

“A new manager will be announced in due course and we’re really pleased to confirm that we have secured a new manager, who we’re really pleased with.

“The work has begun with the manager on recruitment for next season. We don’t want a repeat of this season – we want to be as close as possible to getting the right squad together.”

Cray Valley Paper Mills have secured an Isthmian League Premier Division play-off spot.

Steve McKimm’s side beat Chatham Town 1-0 on Easter Monday through a Dan Bowry 37th-minute strike to confirm their top-five spot with one game to go.

They beat Whitehawk 3-0 on Bank Holiday Friday, with Matthew Vigor netting and Mohammed Idris Oshilaja scoring twice.

“I’m very pleased,” said McKimm.

“Everyone wrote us off at the start of the season. We knew what we had in the changing room. Play-offs or not, we knew what we had in the changing room.

“Certain people thought we would get relegated – we have basically stuck two fingers up to them.

“The job isn’t done but we’re in a position to get promoted – others would love to be in our place.

“It’s a great achievement for us.”

PICTURE: ROB AVIS