Today’s Menu, Chips, Chip, Chips.

The battle for the title took yet another twist on Saturday, Dulwich bagging all three points on the road to rivals Tooting, Maidstone engulfed by the red mist as their derby battle with Sittingbourne saw victory claimed by the Brickies in a fractious game marred by alleged off the field shenanigans. Moreover, Dulwich, though trailing the Stones by dint of their superior goal difference, find themselves in the box seat courtesy of a single game in hand. Yet no game should be taken for granted and that starts with today’s visit of John Hamsher’s Chipstead.

Though the Chips currently feel the chill breath of relegation at the back of their necks, just six points separating them from revitalised perennial basement dwellers Three Bridges, they have oft proved themselves tough opposition for the Hamlet. When the two sides crossed swords back on Boxing Day it was a feisty encounter, even allowing for the appalling weather conditions that left players and supporters alike drenched to the core. Barely a cigarette paper between the two teams that day, Daniel Carr nodding Hamlet ahead mere moments after the start of the second half, a goal that would settle the battle though Dulwich had to be grateful to Phil Wilson for a couple of vital late blocks to preserve the victory.

Early doors this season, after a mixed start that saw two wins countered by two defeats in the opening league games, the heady position of third in the table reached and a decent 5-2 victory over Crowborough in the FA Cup, things started to fall apart in September. In the space of 11 days, the Chips crashed out of three cup competitions, all in home ties and lost their second manager of the season. In a hectic few weeks Three Bridges triumphed 3-0 in the League Cup, Maidstone United ran riot, winning 4-0 in an FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie before Waltham Forest’s single goal victory at the High Road ensured FA Trophy dreams were stillborn. In the wake of that reverse caretaker manager Mick Read departed the hot seat having stepped into the breach after long-term supremo Mark Tompkins stunned supporters by quitting the Chips for a second time barely a week into the season citing personal reasons.

New incumbent, Hamsher quickly endeared himself to the High Road faithful with back-to-back wins over Horsham and Three Bridges but the honeymoon was not to last, just one win in the next ten, albeit away to the formidable Hythe Town. The sea change seemed sparked by the arrival of a number of experienced new faces among them striker Joe Nwoko, who made the move from Sittingbourne in mid-November who has found the net thrice in the side’s recent good run. Also arriving at the High Road were defender Dan Dean, striker Shaun Preddie and midfielder Andre Scarlett to the squad, 3 key players through the spine of the side.

Under the stewardship of the experienced Hamsher, Chipstead had gone into that Boxing Day match with the Hamlet game on the back of a run of three wins out of four to move up to tenth in Division One South. Defeat at home by Leatherhead followed but they were back to winning ways with a 4-1 thumping of Merstham on New Year’s Day before picking up all three points from a narrow 1-0 victory away to Herne Bay. However, with injury and suspensions ravaging his squad, the Chips were devoured by a rampant Eastbourne Town, beaten 5-2 at home in a match described by the manager as a “horror show”.

Though they bounced back with an impressive extra time victory over Carshalton Athletic in the Surrey Senior Cup, since then the Chips have won just once in the league, that away to Walton Casuals where new signing Laurent Hamici, late of this parish, bagged a hat trick against the struggling Thames-siders. A brave performance against an AFC Wimbledon side, containing a hefty proportion of first team regulars proved Pyrrhic despite taking the lead through Rob Haworth before the New Dons hit back with two goals to dump Chipstead out of the Surrey Senior Cup by AFC Wimbledon. However, the performance was tempered by an injury to ‘keeper Martin Grant who was knocked unconscious during the match and had to be taken to hospital.

As the weather took a turn for the worse, the Chips found themselves kicking their heels for the best part of a month. Last Saturday week’s game against bottom side Three Bridges was the Chips' fourth postponement in a row, with Hamsher's side itching for a return to action. Finally, on Easter Saturday, the boots were on again but, hors de combat for so long, they took time to get into their stride as Merstham took the High Road, eventually going down 0-1 as Lee Newman sniffed out a chance in the box, pouncing on a loose ball to stab home a late 87th minute decider.

Though recovering well and likely to be back in training in a couple of weeks, Grant will miss out today after suffering that concussion against AFC Wimbledon with Hamsher expecting the shot stopper to be out for at least the next few weeks, if not until the end of the season. Also missing will be defender Tom Jelley, still serving out his suspension for a sending off against Faversham more than a month ago. However otherwise the Chips look to be picking from a strong squad most of their walking wounded patched up and back in contention with Hamici doubtful for the Easter weekend games.

This afternoon’s game kick-off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

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

• £9 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 16s, Unemployed (UB40) & Full Time Students with 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