Get yer trousers on, you're nicked! Will Cooper’s coppers come a cropper at the Hill this Saturday?

The Met might be having a tough season by their standards but they come into this afternoon’s encounter on the back of a good run of five straight wins that has hauled them away from the relegation zone. Since the end of November when their encounter with Lowestoft Town at Imber Court finished in a scoreless draw, the boys in blue have picked up ten out of a possible twelve points and though some may say opposition of late has come from the wrong end of the table, one only has to look at their battling performance away to pacesetters Wealdstone to see the potential of Jim Cooper’s men when it come to a scrap.

After a blitzkrieg from the Stones in the early stages of the first half that eventually saw them take a deserved lead through Jonathan Wright’s header, the Police supporters must have felt so lonely amongst the ranks of the celebrating home support fearing the demolition man was on his way. However, after 39 minutes they were walking on the moon as a lofted clearance from Tom McGarry held in the air and the Wealdstone centre half Sean Cronin struggled to get underneath it. The ball was allowed to bounce and as home ‘keeper Jonathan North came off his line Charlie Collins nipped in to prod the ball over his head and into the net. On any other day the Stones might have turned the half time parity into a thumping victory but the thin blue line held firm to register a welcome draw.

Collins was again on target as the Police snatched a single goal victory away to Beckenham Town in the London Senior Cup, a win that set up a trip to the Hamlet next month. However, the result was not enough to see manager Cooper make a promised trip to the barber, his lengthening face fuzz still intact until a league victory was attained. However out came the old cutthroat razor the following Saturday as a trip to Wingate and Finchley saw the Met complete a league double against their hosts with a 3 -0 victory with Elliot Taylor celebrating his maiden first team goal to give the Police the lead. A second goal came from a player from the opposite end of the experience spectrum as skipper Steve Sutherland headed home as the Police exploited a gale at their backs. The second half saw the the wind favour the hosts but once more the boys in blue proved resolute in defence before recent signing, striker Bradley Hudson-Odoi, outpaced a sluggish defence to put the copper’s helmet on the result.

Though their home meeting with Enfield fell afoul of the inclement weather the Saturday before Christmas, the Middlesex clubs proved to be fruitful picking for the Met once they were back on the beat after the Christmas break, aka Christmas Day. Barely had the turkey been digested than the Police were on the road round the M25 to Harrow Borough. Illness, injury and absence took its toll on the squad selection but once more the boys in blue rose to the occasion as goals from Matt Pattison and Charlie Collins gave Cooper’s makeshift XI the advantage, one they clung on to despite Stephen Butterworth’s reply for the hosts.

The good form continued as a vital three points were taken from Thamesmead Town, Bradley Hudson-Odoi’s early and late double bookending a header from former Dulwich defender Ryan James. New Year’s Day usually brings a day of rest for the Police and this year was no exception. However with the entire Premier Division programme decimated by the downpours that lashed the country, the Police found themselves in the curious position of being the only topflight Isthmian club to run out last week after the Surrey FA instructed that they play their county cup-tie away to Dorking Wanderers last Thursday. What might have been a tricky hurdle so close to this afternoon’s encounter was successfully negotiated thanks to a few cadets as teenagers dominated the squad selection, the Police winning 2-0.

This afternoon’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 12.45pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. As a healthy crowd is expected, why not avoid the rush late and relax. 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?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50