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Yet again a very young Whyteleafe side failed to obtain the final one point necessary to ensure Ryman League survival but they put up a strong fight against promotion-chasing Hamlet.
Playing in front of their largest home crowd of the season, Dulwich had the better of the early play, but the first real chance fell to the visitors when a misunderstanding between James Dunn, the home keeper, and one of his defenders almost let in Fabian Batchelor, but the young 'Leafe striker could not quite reach the loose ball. Batchelor then harried Francis Duku into an error but the resulting corner came to nothing.
'Leafe were playing in a defensive formation with Dan Aldous and Dan Frith both on the left and Chris Webster, the Youth Team's leading goalscorer on the right in a five-man back line.
The dry, dusty pitch and bright sunshine were causing some anxious moments to the visitors’ defence and when Michael Lidbury was hesitant in coming out Pinnock was left clear on goal, but failed to capitalise and Leafe scrambled away for a corner.
From a further corner Duku beat Lidbury but the ball was kicked away on the line. A needless foul by Webster was followed by successive shots from Deen and Francis.
At the other end Bentley Graham was closer to target when a curling free kick narrowly missed the Hamlet crossbar.
The home side continued to underperform in front of goal. When Gary Drewitt found himself clear in front of goal, he managed to hit it in almost completely the wrong direction.
But he made full amends in the 31st minute when a firm header from a well-directed cross gave Hamlet what was to prove the only goal of the game.
At half time Chris Webster, who had been suffering from the heat, was replaced by 'Leafe's only available substitute Mesach Smith leading to a more attacking formation from the visitors.
A free kick from Dulwich fell to Pinnock in front of goal, but he slipped and Lidbury was able to collect.
In a frantic spell, successive fine tackles by Fleming, Aldous and Laud-Anderson prevented Dulwich from extending their lead. Seconds later Rob Gradwell found an unmarked Nyren Clunis but again Lidbury saved well.
Dan Aldous was caught in possession by Clunis but the ball ran through to the 'Leafe keeper. A minute later, the same thing happened and Lidbury was forced to leave his area and clear with a waist-high header.
Despite the draining weather conditions the 'Leafe defence was playing with more solidity than in recent weeks and gradually they gained the confidence to allow more men to push forward in support of Ryan Thomas up front.
On 66 minutes came their first solid chance of the half when a fierce shot by Batchelor was pushed just wide of the post by Dunn. At the other end Ray Powell found himself in front of an open goal, but mistimed his jump.
The game was becoming more open and a solo run by Mesach Smith ended with a shot into the side netting. Defender Daniel Frith pushed forward as 'Leafe sensed a chance securing that elusive point on a ground that has traditionally been lucky for them.
A Smith centre was totally mishandled by the Dulwich keeper, who had looked unsure all afternoon, and Duku was forced to head off a line that some thought had already been crossed.
Dulwich continued to squander chances as well; a timely intervention by Dan Aldous on Ray Powell and a narrow offside against Rob Gradwell could have proved more fruitful.
The home side probably just about deserved their narrow victory but the young and depleted 'Leafe side, well marshalled by skipper Fleming, stuck to their task and left Champion Hill with their heads held high.
Whyteleafe: Lidbury, Aldous, Frith, Fleming, Laud-Anderson, Batchelor, Webster (Smith M 45), Graham B, Adeyei, Thomas, Banton.
There were no unused substitutes.