The local "Guardian" group of papers spoke to Gavin Rose, & published this report online, earlier today:

"We need some protection" - Dulwich Hamlet manager Gavin Rose

Dulwich Hamlet manager Gavin Rose says his team needs referees to do their job and stop his stars being kicked all over the park.

Hamlet, third in the Ryman League Division One South, have lost just once in five league games, and Saturday’s 2-0 win at Walton Casuals, with goals from Dan Carr and Lewis Gonsalves, is the third win in that sequence.

However, Rose is having to rely on an increasingly shrinking squad - Ellis Green limped out of the Walton game with an ankle injury to join Josh Turner (ankle), Tony Sinclair (knee) and Ahmed Deen (broken leg) on the treatment table.

And the Hamlet boss knows exactly why they are picking up so many injuries.

Rose said: “Teams are trying to stop us by kicking us. The tackle that broke Deen’s leg was dreadful and Green got a kick on his ankle.

“We need some protection because a long injury list and a small squad don’t go together well. It may be that teams are scared of us and want to stop us however they can, hopefully the officials will recognise that.

“If tackles fall within the letter of the law, then that’s fine, but some tackles have been terrible.”

Rose is pleased by his side’s team spirit – borne out of the whole side getting on the scoresheet.

He said: “Everyone is chipping in with goals, it is a team game after all. You cannot always rely on the front men. That is not fair. But we are getting goals from all through the team which I can only be happy with.

“However, we do need to be more ruthless at both ends of the pitch. Our general play is very good, but sometimes we let ourselves down by lacking a bit more of a clinical edge when defending or attacking.”

He added: “Clubs in this league seem to expect us to be near the top, they sort of take it for granted, because of the past two seasons where we have been there or there abouts.

“But what they don’t see is all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. My players work extremely hard, and I believe there is more to come from them.”