HALF PRICE CHRISTMAS TURVEY

Football for a fiver at Champion Hill this evening as Dulwich Hamlet take on Faversham Town in the Alan Turvey Trophy, KO 7.45pm

Faversham’s quest for the Robert Dyas (Ryman League) Cup began back in September when they dispatched Hythe Town at the First Round stage with a comprehensive 3-0 victory. However, their next opponents Hastings United proved a tighter affair. Seconds were left when the Arrows struck what seemed to be the winner but in the fourth minute of stoppage time Matt Bourne tucked home a header to send the game to penalties. With the sides level at 5-5 Luke Harvey stepped up for spot kick number 16 of the night, his decisive strike almost saved but still finding the net to set up tonight’s encounter. Not only is there a trip to AFC Hornchurch at stake in the quarter finals tonight but also a smattering of revenge after Renford Tenyue’s double dispatched Dulwich Hamlet at the same stage of the competition last season.

It’s been a topsy-turvy season for Dulwich Hamlet’s opponents tonight with Faversham Town, perennial challengers for promotion for the Ryman South, currently struggling in midtable in the division. The Lilywhites lie in 15th spot at the moment, 13 points adrift of Peter Adeniyi’s Carshalton Athletic in the last play-off place and, though they do have four games in hand of the Robins, there are other clubs between the pair in a similar situation.

After a promising start to the season that saw Ray Turner’s side beaten just once in their opening half dozen games, Faversham had established themselves amongst the early pacemakers. The side proved their firepower up front with some high scoring results including a 6-3 win at home to Herne Bay in which the visitors were reduced to nine men by the 51st minute. Sam Berwick and Dean Grant scored a brace apiece, Grant going one better a fortnight later when he bagged a hat trick in a 5-0 demolition of Lewes at Salters Lane. This purple patch also saw a fine run in the Emirates FA Cup, Faversham Town upsetting the formbook to dispatch Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division highflyers Hitchin Town 1-0 in Second Qualifying Round replay at Top Field with Grant once more the man of the moment. Unfortunately, they could not repeat that feat at the next stage as they went out by a single goal at Egham Town, again in a replay.

Although Faversham bounced back from that disappointment with a 4-1 win at home to Three Bridges, a frustrating spell of results sent them tumbling down the table. The next seven league games saw just one victory as the Lilywhites made the joyful return from a long Wednesday night out on Guernsey having triumphed 4-2. For the Islanders, their halcyon days seem a distant memory. Next up came the visit of South Park in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round and early on it seemed as if progression was on the cards. 21 minutes played and Faversham led 2-0 but then Joe Jackson took hold, scoring thrice to turn the contest on its head. Kieran Lavery added number 4 for South Park and. though Bewick narrowed the gap in the dying minutes, it was not enough. With South Park heading to Tranmere Rovers this weekend in the Second Round Proper of the competition, there must be envious eyes cast in that direction.

The struggle to regain that early season momentum continued but little avail. Narrow defeats were countered narrow wins until a post-Christmas rally that has seen the ship steadied and the Lilywhites unbeaten in their last four outings. Boxing Day brought local Sittingbourne to Salters Lane, the Brickies putting up a wall to frustrate their hosts as the clubs shared a 1-1 draw. New Year’s saw a similar result down at Hythe Town, but provided more entertainment by a country mile. Ex Dulwich Hamlet forward Frankie Sawyer gave Hythe the lead in the first half only for George Monger, a former Hamlet junior, to force home a leveller with ten minutes left. Almost instantly Faversham found themselves down to ten men as Bewick got his marching orders, the numbers evened in as game with more cards than the World Series of Poker late on as Hythe’s Ryan Johnson walked following his second caution. The New Year brought a new hope. Boxing Day Bank Holiday Monday saw Josh Stanford’s 77th minute goal complete the double over Herne Bay as Faversham came away with a 2-1 victory. Then, on Saturday last, the Lilywhites made it four games unbeaten and remarkably the first back-to-back wins since mid-September as Mobolaji Dawodu’s late, late show rescues victory from the ashes of defeat. Having led through Jordan Casey’s opener on the quarter hour had Faversham in the driving seat but the opposition struck twice in four minutes through Matthew Bunyan. 2-1 it remained until 88 minutes when Dawodu forced home the equaliser. Two minutes later he struck again as the forward’s deft header from a Monger delivery found the back of the net to send the home fans into delirium.

Tonight’s game takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, SE22 8BD, kicking off at 7.45pm.

Admission Prices:

• £5 for Adults
• £2 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Please note Season Tickets are NOT valid tonight.