The Bostik season has started...

So it's time to get stuck into the local press reports from the last seven days.

Last Sunday the 'Non League Paper' covered our opener with Staines Town:

Dulwich failed to hold on to Nathan Green's early goal and were held by a battling Staines side, Lewis Driver maintaining the Swans' record of not losing on the opening day since 1997.
Hamlet threatened from the kick-off and twice went close before taking the lead in the fourth minute.
Gavin Tomlin's corner was won by Anthony Acheampong and his knockdown ran to Green who drove home from ten yards.
Unfortunately Green's joy was short-lived as just two minutes later he was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder.
Green's injury appeared to unsettle the home side and Staines came more into the game.
Midway through the half, Tommy Brewer headed in from a free-kick but was flagged offside.
Dulwich enjoyed a good spell before half-time but Acheampong headed wide and Dumebi Dumaka was thwarted by the visiting keeper Ashlee Jones.
After the break, Acheampong and Quade Taylor put headers wide before Staines equalized on 63 minutes.
Max Worsfold curled in a free-kick from the right and Driver connected with a brave diving header at the far post.
Chances were then at a premium before both sides had to settle for a point.
STAR MAN: Anthony Acheampong (Dulwich Hamlet)
ENTERTAINMENT: *** (out of a possible five stars)

The Hamlet led in Tuesday's small non-league column, in the midweek copy of the 'South London Press' :

Dulwich Hamlet kicked off their Bostik League Premier Division campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Staines Town.
Nathan Green fired home in the fourth minute after Anthony Acheampong's header deflected off Michael Chambers and into his path.
But shortly afterwards the goalscorer was forced off with a shoulder injury.
Dulwich struggled to create after the substitution and Staines deserved their 63rd-minute leveler, Lewis Driver heading home.

On Thursday, in the 'Southwark News', it was the hero of Harlow who took the headlines:

A sensational finish at the Harlow Arena on Tuesday night saw Dulwich Hamlet recover from the jaws of defeat to seal a pulsating 3-2 win for their first three points of the season.
Gavin Rose's side were heading for defeat with just six minutes left, before Muhammudu Faal made it 2-2 and the same player snatched a dramatic victory with a last-minute winner.
Ibrahim Kargbo had given Hamlet the lead in the second minute, before Harlow's Syrus Gordon leveled the game seven minutes later.
The home side went 2-1 up through Alex Read after half an hour, and that's the way it stayed until Faal's decisive late contributions.
It was Hamlet's first win of the season in their second game, after they drew 1-1 at home with Staines Town last weekend.
It has ben a positive start for Hamlet, who are showing no signs of any lingering disappointment after they missed out in the Ryman League Premier division play-offs last season.
That's credit to Rose, and the way his side fought back on Tuesday night indicates they possess the fighting qualities to mount a real promotion challenge this season.
They enjoyed the perfect start on Tuesday night when Harlow only half cleared a corner from Gavin Tomlin following Patrick Lee's save, and Kargbo was there to lob the goalkeeper from a tricky angle.
Harlow responded by putting their opponents under concerted pressure, and made it 1-1 in the ninth minute when the Hamlet defence failed to deal with a cross and Gordon fired his effort into the top corner.
Dulwich could have retaken the lead within a minute but Tomlin, in space, shot well over.
Charlie Dickens missed an effort for Harlow before Kargbo found Ashley Carew, but the midfielder delayed releasing Sanchez Ming, who missed the target.
Hamlet were struggling at defensive set-pieces, and Harlow went in front on 30 minutes, Read left completely free to finish past Edwards.
Dulwich almost equalised just before half-time, only for Nyren Clunis' effort to hit the post.
Rose sent his side back out with ten minutes stil lremaining of the half-time break, and his players responded by pressing for an equalizer, but Clunis again fired over.
Lee kept his side in front when he denied Tomlin and Dumebi Dumaka couldn't beat the stopper, either, Lee making a brilliant save when faced with a one-on-one against the attacker.
Lee again came to Harlow's rescue in the 55th minute when he pushed away Ming's attempt, and Junior Dadson almost compounded Dulwich's wastefulness but his vicious drive smacked off the post.
Rose had seen enough, and he brought on Nathan Ferguson, Rickie Hayles and Faal as his side went all out to try to get something from a game that was slipping away from them.
It was an inspired tactical intervention. In the 84th minute, Tomlin's corner was headed towards goal by Anthony Acheampong, and, though Lee saved initially, he only pushed the ball out to Faal, who headed home.
It took a well-timed tackle from Kargbo to prevent Harlow going back in front, before Edwards produced a superb save with a minute left, and it was all the more impressive as he saw a rising drive late through a crowd.
There was still time for Hamlet to launch one more attack. In the final minute, Clunis picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward before releasing Faal into space behind the defence. He took a couple of touches before keeping his composure and beating Lee. It was harsh on the goalkeeper and on his side, but Hamlet won't care as they get their season properly up and running.

And, finally, to yesterday's weekend edition of the 'South London Press'; where we play down the hype around today's opponents:

Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose says he has no issues with the spending approach of Saturday's opponents Billericay.
Owner and manager Glenn Tamplin has splashed the cash with the likes of Jermaine Pennant and former Charlton left-baxk Paul Konchesky in their ranks.
Brash Tamplin had lions painted onto the Billericay home changing room's walls this week but faces a trip to Champion Hill this weekend.
Rose said: "We've still got the same, bland white walls. I think people do get offended by what Billericay are doing-but it doesn't bother me. They've got the money to do what they want to do. Is it a successful formula? That's going to be proven at the end of the season. There's no doubt they have players that could play leagues above but it's a team game, not just about individuals. The job is to get the team working for each other. I'm not saying Billericay are doing it the right way or the wrong way. I'm certainly not offended by what they do."
Dulwich will be without Nathan Green (dislocated shoulder) for about a month.
Rose is keen to offer a deal to former Port Vale midfielder Nathan Ferguson-an unused sub in Tuesday's 3-2 win at Harlow Town-but budget constraints mean there need to be outgoings first. Young striker Muhammadu Faal came off the bench twice with Ibrahim Karbo on target.

There was more about both Ferguson & Faal on-line at the 'South London Press' website. Regarding Nathan, Gavin was quoted as saying:

“Nathan has done a few trials in the summer but has not been able to get fixed up. He is lacking match fitness. We haven’t even agreed a financial deal with him because we’re not in a position to do so due to the budget restraint we have. He needs to be in and around football and playing. We’re hoping over the next weeks to be able to get something sorted. We want to keep him a bit longer. He is a very good talent and more than proven at this level. He’s still young.”

Also on-line, regarding Muhammadu, in the 'South London Press' website again:

Champion Hill chief Gavin Rose is excited at the potential of the young striker, who has impressed since linking up with them despite no track record in non-league football.

“He has been recommended to us two weeks ago by a friend and has not played at a real high level,” he said. “He has come through park football and played a little bit last season in the division below . He turned up at my academy two weeks ago and did really well and then trained with the first-team. He featured on Saturday and has made himself part of our squad. I think there is a lot of talent like that out there. We don’t turn our nose up to anyone. There are always a few boys who have never been spotted before but just need the opportunity. He can be a strong squad player and if he does even better than that, everyone will be happy.”