Looking ahead to today’s trip to Hampton and Richmond Borough

With the new season just a fortnight away Dulwich Hamlet face probably their toughest test so far of a rigorous preseason buildup.

After three straight home games against tree straight games against the Development Squads of Hamlet’s local professional sides, it's time to hit the road and head for the Beveree, home of last season’s Ryman League Premier Division champions, Hampton & Richmond Borough. Though many antepost pundits may have been shocked by the Beavers’ rapid rise through perceived relegation fodder to ultimate title winners, it came through a steady building process with key men in key positions a cornerstone of their campaign supplemented by the judicious use of loan signings.

Unfortunately one of keys cogs was lost in the summer as mountainous defender cum goal scoring aerial assault weapon at corner heading north to Barrow leaving manager Alan Dowson with the onerous task of laying his hands on a defender who as commanding at the back as he is lethal in the opposition box.

The Geordie boss has also had to deal with press speculation regarding one of the Beavers’ hottest prospects of recent years with paper talk linking striker Jamal Lowe to the likes of ALdershot Town and Stevenage. In the victorious Championship campaign Lowe found the net a dozen times in 19 outings.

Another player Dowson must have been happy to hold on to would have to be Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick, the pacy wingman the scourge of many a side last term. When preseason opened a Corinthian-Casuals in the annual Jimmy Hill / Geoff Harvey Memorial Tournament Johnson-Hippolyte showed no signs of ring rustiness as he bagged a double in a very comfortable 4-0 victory over Tonbridge Angels. LOwe and Nicke Kabamba also found the net to set up a final with Hayes and Yeading the following day. As was to expected the Sunday squad bore little resemblance to the previous day’s triumphant team. Two goals to the HandYmen inside three minutes it was an uphill struggle as they toiled in the afternoon heat. Giuseppe Sole pulled back a penalty but with the opposition’s Tom Kearney completing his hat trick in the last ten minutes and Aaron Lamore goal at the death proved mere consolation as the game finished 2-4.

The following weekend Hampton welcomed Aldershot Town to the Beveree and waltzed to a comfortable victory with the Shots almost disinterested. Aldershot were wobbling from the moment Tom Jelley banged in a sixth minute penalty after a foul on Lowe. Party time as another Jelley spot kick made it 2-0, this time Hippolyte-Patrick the player fouled and with Kabamba making it 3-0 in the second half, it was something of a cakewalk at the end. Next up a trio to the Met Police and despite a number of trialists in Dowson’s squad the Beavers made a quickfire start as one of their number, Manny Williams stooped to head home after 2 minutes. However the game would finish al square after Tom Hickey equalised for the Boys in Blue early in the second half. Making a reciprocal visit to Salford City, the Beavers kept up the good run of results as Jay Gasson 20th minute goal proved the difference between the two combatants setting for the marque match as National League South Champions Sutton United paid a call. The first half proved uneventful but things burst when the U’s Maxime Biamou glanced a header past keeper Billy Bishop into the far corner of the goal. However that lead lasted just 5 minutes as Manny Williams rounded keeper Ross Worner to the ball home from close range. Then in the final throes of the game the Beavers’ Kabamba chased down a long Jelley pass, beating Worner to the ball, rounding the stranded custodian and dribble the ball into the now-exposed goal..

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at the Beveree Stadium, Beaver Close, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2XB
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults £7.00
Concessions £5.00
Under 16s £1.00