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Whyteleafe took a hard earned three points away from Champion Hill with a fine display of attacking flair and resilient defending.
The visitors started the brightest and took the lead in the 8th minute when Sam Butler sped down the left wing to cross from the by-line and Leon McDowall buried his diving header past keeper Kieron Thorp.
Just five minutes later the ball was in the back of the Dulwich net when Leafe right-back Dan Aldous hit a high cross into the area which bounced over the advancing keeper and was tapped home by Danny Oakins; however the goal was disallowed, very harshly, with the referee insisting Oakins had fouled Thorp, to the bemusement of the watching Whyteleafe faithful.
Dulwich looked to hit back and on 17 minutes only a smart block by the impressive centre-half Rhys Coleman and a punch clear by keeper Rob O'Hara prevented them from doing so. At the other end, Butler hit another high cross from the left, misjudged again by Thorp, but he recovered to push the ball around his post.
On 22 minutes Leafe's Mark Hammond, playing well in the unfamiliar role of left-back, hit a fierce free-kick from 20 yards, smartly pushed around the post again by the busy Thorp.
For the rest of the first half Hamlet enjoyed a lot of possession and O'Hara was called into action again on the half-hour, diving low to his right to push away a long-range effort, gathering under pressure at the second attempt. Captain Paul Scott joined the defence as the pressure mounted and blocked another fierce drive just before the break.
Just after the interval lively Dulwich winger Sanchez Ming ran through on goal, but his low shot from the edge of the area was saved by O'Hara's legs. In the 54th minute Leafe doubled their lead when Butler once again crossed from the left and Oakins applied a deft back-header in a crowded box.
The hosts enjoyed a lot of possession and showed some fine build-up play, but lacked a cutting edge up front, against a defensive pairing of Fred Fleming and Coleman who stood firm to repel numerous balls into the area.
On 63 minutes young winger Jordan Wilson ran from midfield and hit a low and hard shot, turned around his post by Thorp. From the resultant corner Oakins hit a screaming volley inches over the bar. Seven minutes later Butler, enjoying a tremendous performance, made another strong run and unleashed another fierce shot, well held by Thorp.
In the final quarter hour Dulwich pressed for a reply, but the Leafe defence met the challenge and held on for a well deserved and very welcome three points.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Aldous, Hammond, Fleming, Coleman R, Sidwell, Wilson, McDowall (Ikolodo 88), Scott (Coleman D 71), Oakins (Dimmock 65), Butler. Subs not used: Hancock, Bremner.