BOXING DAY MATCH PREVIEW – KINGSTONIAN (HOME) KO 3.00 PM

Are you ready for a Boxing Day bonanza as table topping Dulwich Hamlet host the lurking K’s just four points & four places adrift?

With Dulwich Hamlet at the head of an increasing congested promotion chasing pack, the K’s right in the thick of things just below them the stage is set for a titanic battle. Dulwich’s league form has been somewhat inconsistent of late, Saturday’s last gasp win at Grays Athletic breaking a run of three games without a victory and allowing the Hamlet to retain top spot by dint of a superior goal difference to Hampton & Richmond Borough. By contrast the K’s had put together a three match winning streak to reinforce their own promotion credentials. That was until last Saturday when Kingsmeadow was stunned by a three goal second half blitz from visiting East Thurrock United as the Rocks run out 4-1 winners taking their chances when the hosts did not.

When the sides last the season was still young. After a good start with back-to-back wins Dulwich had slipped off the pace with a four game run that had amassed just two points. For Kingstonian things were even worse, floundering in mid-table after just two wins from their opening half dozen outings, though one of those had been a 7-0 annihilation of the Met Police! Things were not to get any better for Tommy Williams men as they were hit early by the Hamlet, Jacob Erskine converting Nyren Clunis’s cross with a clinical volley at the back of the box. With Dan Sweeny ruling the roost in midfield Kingstonian were in the ascendancy but chances went unfulfilled and Dulwich added a brace of quick-fire goals midway through the second half. The first was a carbon copy of the opener as Jacob Erskine swept home another Nyren Clunis cross. Moments later it was 3-0 as from a scrambled corner that the K’s defence failed to clear Ethan Pinnock rammed home from close range.

From defeat the K’s found momentum winning they next three league games and progressing through the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, dispatching Farnborough by the odd goal in five after a replay. However, there was to be no glory chase in that competition as the adventure ended in a 2-0 defeat away to Dunstable Town at the Second Qualifying Round stage. The promotion challenge continued to be of a frustration to the fans, Brendan Murphy-McVey’s 86th minute winner clinching a narrow 1-0 win at home to Hendon and providing the impetus for a long unbeaten run that also saw the K’s progress in both the FA Trophy and the Alan Turvey Trophy. A Friday in Aveley may not appeal to even the most hardened of Non-League Football fans but after returning from the Mill Field with a 3-1 win thanks goals from Dan Bennett and a Jake Kempton double, the Saturday sore heads must have felt a little less painful. Yet despite not losing a game in October progress up the table continued to be stilted, with more than half of the league games ending all square those be include key draws with highflying Leiston and Tonbridge Angels. Trophy progression was assured with 5-1 one humbling of Leatherhead at Fetcham Grove just three days after the two teams had played out a stale goalless draw at the same venue.

November opened with skipper Alan Inns nodding in the only goal of the game at home to Enfield Town, the playoff places at last breached. And though Met Police avenged that 7-0 thumping with a 2-1 win at Imber Court, the thrust forwards saw K’s quest for silverware intensify. Farnborough were dispatched in the Alan Turvey Trophy to set up a quarterfinal trip to Leiston in the New Year. Dan Bennett’s double saw his side through in the FA Trophy as Dorchester Town surrendered in a replay at Kingsmeadow. That set up more West Country opposition but National League South side Truro City proved too strong nailing down the lid on K’s hopes in the national competitions with a convincing 3-0 win.

However, there was still the small matter of the Surrey Senior Cup and though the county competitions may be losing something of their lustre in the modern game, the trip to Merstham to take on Walton Casuals provided plenty for the stattos to feast on. Former Dulwich Hamlet custodian Rob Tolfrey provided much of that, saving a penalty in normal time as the tie finished 1-1, then tucking one away himself in the shoot then proving the hero of the night as he saved a penalty from Jack Sammoutis when the Casuals seemed set to clinch the tie. Eventually, after Filippo Di Bonito had finished off K’s 11th spot kick to make it 9-8, the stage was set for Tolfrey to send K’s through as he kept out Casuals last attempt from another former Hamlet man, Osa Obamwonyi.

Returning to Ryman Premier Division action as December dawned, K’s moved inexorably closer to top spot making sure of three points at home to Merstham thanks to a convincing first half display as goals from Ricky Sappleton, Dan Bennett and Pelayo Pico Gomez gave them a 3-0 lead at the interval. Though Phil Page nicked one back for the Moatsiders it was a victory that was never in doubt. A week later and Kingstonian took advantage of Dulwich’s FA Trophy distraction at Bury Town and Tonbridge Angels draw away to Merstham to join a threesome on points at the top of the table. Their victims Staines Town for whom the early season hopes of promotion seem to have been usurped by the spectre of the relegation battle. Ricky Sappleton was again on target, the burly striker bagging his fourth goal in three successive games to give the K’s the advantage before Malachi Hudson sealing matters late with the second as Staines fell apart, losing Jeremy Boakye to a red card.

Hopes must have been high last Saturday that the pressure could be maintained on the other championship challengers when East Thurrock United came to call. Kingstonian had a new face in the ranks with Tommy Williams having moved swiftly to snap up Hendon striker Aaron Morgan after his release by the North London club. However, after a helter-skelter first half that might have finished 4-4 according to the Rocks manager, K’s found themselves picked apart as the Essex men cemented a crushing victory with a three goal glut after the break.

This Saturday’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

The turnstiles will be open from approximately 12.30 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles? The bar will open serving a range of excellent ales including selections from local breweries such as First Team main sponsor Late Knights Brewery, Clarkshaws and the Brick Brewery.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (JSA), Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blues Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Programmes: £2-00