All the news from our local newspapers from the last couple of weeks

It's been a while, since the last weekend in Spetember in fact, since I've had a chance to share what the local papers have been reporting on. Apoogies for the lateness. Just to explain, for our regular fans, for whom this might be a bit dated, the reason I copy them on here is not so much for you, who buy the papers, bt for our fans outside the catchment area, & abriad, who do not get a chance to read them.

So here, we go all the way back to Tuesday 24th September, for the midweek edition of the 'South London Press':

Wilson the hero as Dulwich beat Canvey Island

Dulwich Hamlet moved up to fifth in the Ryman League Premier Division after a narrow 1-0 win over Canvey Island at Champion Hill.
Kevin James struck the winner two minutes into the second half but the real hero was Dulwich goalkeeper Phil Wilson, who preserved his side's lead despite sustained pressure from the visitors. A double block from Simon Thomas and Sheldon Sellers was followed by a remarkable triple save at the near post in the final 20 minutes. Dulwich host Margate tonight before the two sides clash in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Two days later, in the weekly edition of the 'Southwark News' , from Thursday 26th September, the Canvey game also claimed the headlines:

Wilson pulls out the stops against Canvey Island

Hamlet were grateful to keeper Phil Wilson for some fine late stops as they picked up all three points against Canvey Island on Saturday.
The Essex side will feel hard done by as they deserved a point in a game of few gilt edged chances, but Wilson was on hand late on with a double save, followed minutes later by an astonishing triple save, to make sure all three points went Hamlet's way.
Dulwich were far from their flowing best as Canvey swarmed all over them throughout the game but a Kevin James goal just after the break proved enough, thanks in large parts to man of the match Wilson.
Speaking about his keeper, boss Gavin Rose said: "He has been with me for two different spells and he never lets you down. We have recently had goalkeeping coaches in to with all our keepers and I am sure Phil will only benefit from that."
He also admitted he was surprised with the intensity the visitors showed. He added: "I watched Canvey Island play about am onth ago and they were not as competitive as they were on Saturday. They were also much more organised as a team and worked really hard for each other. Straight after the game I was not happy with our performance but in hindsight we played against a team who played well, but we stuck together and came away with the points. That is what footbal lis all about and you can't always play brilliant stuff and win. But we had worked on things in training that were going to counter exactly what Canvey did to us and we did not take it into the game. At this level it is hard to change to flow of a game once it is set, but I hope we learn from this for next time."
On Tuesday night at Champion Hill Hamlet's fine form continued against Margate when they defeated the Kent side 2-0.
A first half goal from James followed by an Ian Daly effort four minutes from time saw Dulwich move to fifth in the Ryman Premier League table, two points behind Kingstonian.
Hamlet make a return trip to Margate on Saturday as the pair clash again in the FA Cup, the game kicks off at 3pm.

The day after, Friday 27th, the midweek edition of the 'South London Press' concentrated on our Cup tie down on the Kent coast:

Margate might be better, says Rose

Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose expects tomorrow's FA Cup opponents Margate to be a tougher prospect than they were in tuesday's Ryman League Premier Division encounter between the two sides.
Kevin James and Ian Daly got a goal in each half as Dulwich ran out 2-0 victors over The Gate at Champion Hill to make it five wins in a row and keep them within two points of league leaders Kingstonian. goalkeeper Phil Wilson was in top form again, saving from former Dulwich striker Paul Vines in a one-on-one to prevent the visitors from taking a first-half lead. this time Margate will be the hosts in the FA Cup second qualifying round and Rose predicts the Hartsdown Park outfit will make life more difficult for his men. "I expect Margate to work hard and make it hard for us," Rose said. "They will expect the same from us. We can both play better than the league game. I imagine it will be a very tough match-it's the FA Cup and there is money for the winner, which is always a bonus for teams in our league. At this level any club will take it and it could give you a chance to budget a little further for the season. It's a nice little carrot."
Abdul Mansaray picked up a knock on Tuesday and was replaced at half-time. He will be assessed before Saturday's game. Marcel Henry-Francis could return tomorrow after resuming training this week.

We are now on to last week's local news round-ups. And for the second part of this instalment we look at the midweek edition of the 'South London Press' from Tuesday 1st October:

FA Cup run still alive after Dulwich come from behind

Dulwich Hamlet progressed to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after coming from behind to beat Margate 2-1 on Saturday.
Gavin Rose's side found themselves a goal down on the stroke of half-time when former AFC Wimbledon striker Charles Ademeno scored from the spot after having his shirt pulled by Kevin James. The hosts hit the woodwork early in the second half but Ellis Green headed Dulwich level on 51 minutes before Ethan Pinnock smashed in an unstoppable left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area just past the hour. Dulwich will have to wait until tonight to discover their opponents in the next round. They have been drawn away to Hemel Hempstead, of the Southern League Premier Division, or Whitham Town, who ply their trade in Ryman League Division One North. the two sides drew on Saturday and the replay is this evening. The Champion Hill outfit are in league action tonight, travelling to mid-table Bury Town. They are just two points behind leaders Kingstonian.

And so to the 3rd, the weekly edition of the 'Southwark News'. They also covered the Margate FA Cup clash:

Pinnock secures Margate double

Ethan Pinnock scored the goal that kept Hamlet's interest alive in the FA Cup this season as Dulwich came from behind to secure a win away on the Kent coast.
The victory was the Pink and Blues' second over Margate in a matter of days, but unlike the league win they were required to come from a goal behind to secure the passage to the next round.
Margate took the lead just before the break when they were awarded a dubious spot kick. Kevin James was deemed guilty of shirt tugging and Charles Ademeno dispatched the resulting penalty. dulwich drew level on 51 minutes as good play on the right saw Ian Daly deliver a cross that was directed perfectly into the path of Ellis Green, coming in from the left, and he made no mistake as he planted his header into the net.
The winner came just after the hour mark when an Erhun Oztumer corner was cleared to Ellis Green who laid the ball square to Pinnock.
The midfielder, who can also play at centre-half, let fly with an unstoppable left-foot shot that sealed the win.
On Tuesday night Hamlet returned to league action when they travelled to Bury Town and came away with a resounding 4-0 victory. Two goals each from Oztumer and Jerome Walker saw Dulwich pick up a win that takes them to second place in the Ryman Premier Division.

The main non-league story though, in the same edition of the 'Southwark News' concentrated on the FA Cup draw, following that Margate victory;

Rose expects tough FA Cup clash for Hamlet

Hamlet gaffer Gavin Rose expects a tough tie in the next round of the FA Cup after his side secured a come from behind victory against Margate last weekend.
dulwich beat the Kent side for te second time in five days, having beaten Margate by two goals in the league last week, by picking up a 2-1 win on the coast.
That victory means the Pink and Blues will now face Hemel Hempstead Town in the next round of the FA Cup after the Southern League leaders scored three late goals to defeat Witham Town 4-3 in a replayed game on Tuesday evening.
Speaking before the result of that game Rose said: "I haven't seen them play but I have heard good reports about Hemel Hempstead. They are top of their league so for Witham to go there and force a replay shows they must be a good outfit too. I expect it to be a tough game whatever the outcome of the replay."
Even though Hamlet beat Margate 2-0 at Champion Hill last Tuesday Rose changed his line up when the teams met again at the weekend.
He added: "We made a few changes for Saturday as we wated to couter the things we did not do so well in the league game against Margate, mostly in terms of keeping the ball. We did better in that respect and the players that came in did well."
Dulwich are still o the hunt for a ew striker, following the recent long term injury to Harry Ottaway, but the Hamlet boss has been impressed with those who have stepped ito the front man role in recet weeks.
"Some people think of a centre forward and think you have to play a certain way. But I don't see why a player like Ian Daly can't play there," Rose said. "He will approach the position in a different way and it works with Ian and I have no worries about playing him there. We are still keeping an eye out for a forward and we would like another option but we are in no rush. If one comes along then great, but I think we can cope even if that does not happen."
Karl Beckford's permanent move away from Champion Hill to Thamesmead Town has now been confirmed, whilst youngster Nassim Dukali has gone on loan to Sittingbourne to gain first team experience.
Rose stated Dukali will be one of a number of younger players going out on loan in the next few weeks.

And finally, to end the round-up from last week, here is the coverage from the weekend edition of the 'South London Press' last Friday (4th October) which concentrated o the Lewes match last Saturday, with (in my humble opinion) one of the worst puns for a long time!

WE CANNOT LEWES THIS

Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose hopes his free-scoring side can blitz Lewes' defensive record in the Ryman League Premier Division tomorrow.
The Rooks are one of only two unbeaten sides left in the league and boast the second tightest defence, having conceded just eight goals in 11 games-one less than Dulwich, who have played 12 matches, But the Champion Hill outfit are in superb form themselves, having won their last seven games and scored 21 goals in the process. That included four without reply at Bury Town on Tuesday, thanks to braces from Erhun Oztumer and Jerome Walker at Ram Meadow. That result pushed Dulwich up to second in the table.
"Lewes' current form is really good,"Rose said. Their record is to be respected as it it not an eaay league. They've got some resilience about them and obviously they have a tight defence but we create a lot of chances. We'll have to be on the ball. I'm very happy o how the squad are doing- to win seven games in a row is a fantastic achievement. We've played some very good teams on that run. The boys have had to battle a lot and I'm very proud of them.We will have periods when things are not going so well so we have to make sure we don't get carried away with our current form ad keep our heads if that time comes."
Rose does nor prioritise goal difference but admits his side's profligacy could benefit towards the end of the season. "I focus more on the number of points we have but it's a bonus not to have shipped many goals while scoring plenty at the other end because when you get to March and April and things are tight, you start looking at the goal difference because it can be decisive," he said.
It is touch and go whether Louis Gonsalves will be available for the visit of Lewes after having to get treatment for a gashed head sustained in the game against Bury Town, He came out of hospital the same night so could be fit. Full-back Mathieu Boyer took a kick on the ankle but Rose hopes the swelling will have gone down by tomorrow. Dean Lodge is still nursing a bruised foot and Marcel Henry-Francis is doubtful after picking up a thigh strain on Tuesday. Nyren Clunis came on as a substitute in that game as he steps up his fitness.

That concludes the local round-up. Tomorrow we hope to bring you the most recent news from this weeks publications.