More than just a friendly this evening as Dulwich Hamlet travel to Imperial Fields

After last season’s defeat to Tooting & Mitcham Utd in the London Senior Cup Semi-final, Gavin Rose’s men have the chance to make amends tonight.

This Friday night encounter may be billed as a friendly but, let’s be honest, as past contests between the two bitter rivals have proved this is rarely the case when the Hamlet clash with the Terrors. Late last season Dulwich went into London Senior Cup semi-final billed as firm favourites to progress but found themselves well and truly whomped as Tooting won well, not by fate nor by fortune but injected with the sheer bloody-mindedness to inflict Dulwich Hamlet’s first ever defeat at Imperial Fields. Though Dulwich Hamlet named a strong side, it was Tooting who displayed thee greater passion and tenacity from the off taking the lead in the first half through Serge Makofo before Chace O’Neill and Ashley Robinson goals after the break wrapped up a comprehensive win. Certainly that result, undoubtedly that performance, will not be far from the minds of the management before they send their troops into battle in the Hamlet’s last preseason match before the Ryman League Premier Division campaign begins in earnest a week tomorrow at AFC Sudbury.

Tooting’s pre-season campaign has been rather truncated with this evening’s game just their fourth. However, it has proved relatively successful with the Terrors kicking off with a 2-1 win over Barnsley Under 21s after a long trip up to Oakwell. Despite conceding an early goal to the young Tykes, Tooting finding themselves in arrears after just five minutes, their fought back to level 22 minutes before the break when Leon Lalor-Dell found the bottom corner of the net after cutting in from the wing. The match winner came late with only 4 minutes remaining a close-range left footer making for a successful journey to their friends in the North. After a proposed friendly with Kingstonian was cancelled with the Imperial Fields pitch not ready to be played on, Tooting continued to impress drawing 1-1 with young Barnet squad before a scoreless draw with a Crystal Palace Development Squad side.

This evening’s game takes place at The KNK Stadium, Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden SM4 6BF, kicking off at 7.45pm. For directions to the KNK Stadium on the unofficial Tooting and Mitcham website click here.

Admission Prices:

• Adults: £5
• Concessions: £3