Dulwich Hamlet promoted to National League South

Dulwich Hamlet have been promoted to the National League South for the first time in their history, just months after they faced the threat of extinction.

The south London club beat Hendon 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in the final of the Isthmian League play-offs.

The victory ends their five-year stay in the division, and a run of four successive play-off defeats for Gavin Rose and his players.

Promotion comes just two months after they were evicted from their Champion Hill home during a bitter power struggle with owners Meadow.

Dulwich faced the threat of a winding-up order in March after being handed a back-dated bill for rent of £121,000.

They were also handed a letter from solicitors representing Greendales IP LLC, a subsidiary of Meadow, declaring that the club could no longer use its own name as it had been trademarked in October last year.

Meadow bought Dulwich's home ground for £5.7million four years ago but were denied the right to develop the site after losing a legal battle with Southwark Council.

Since the eviction the club been forced to play their home matches at Tooting and Mitcham's KNK Stadium, eight miles south west of Champion Hill.

But next year they will feature higher up the English league pyramid than ever before in their history.

Gavin Tomlin's second-half equaliser cancelled out Ashley Nathaniel-George's opener and took the game to extra time. After 30 goalless extra minutes, goalkeeper Amadou Tangara proved the hero in the shootout.

Victory was followed by an emotional outpouring from the thousands of Dulwich fans in attendance, who stormed onto the pitch after the winning spot kick.