Dulwich Hamlet must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, to Eastbourne Town and a hot meat pie, as there’s no rhyme for Saffrons.

Dulwich will aim to keep up the pressure on table topping Maidstone whilst keeping a weather eye on Faversham, fast cantering up the rails as their summer investments finally begin to bear fruit on winter’s unforgiving fields as they pay a return visit to the Saffrons, home of Eastbourne Town. Already Dulwich have posted victory on the South Coast, Erhun Öztümer’s header sparing the Hamlet the agony of a penalty shoot-out on a damp, blustery night back in October.

The Sussex side have oft proved basement battlers in the Ryman League South but have continued to plug away whilst more of their fellow countymen have slipping back beneath the waves after a brief sojourn in the Isthmian. Horsham YMCA, Crowborough and their ilk, Whitehawk’s engorged coffers notwithstanding, have already risen from the Sussex County League to briefly touch the sun before, like Icarus, plugging back to ground in flames. Three Bridges, for all their endeavour, seemed doomed to add their name to that roll of Sussex shame. For that doggedness credit must be due to boss Danny Bloor, once in charge at Worthing, who has been snaffling up young local talent to blend with hardened local stalwarts to produce a side readying itself for a challenge on the promotion front. This term seems like some bizarre game of snakes and ladders for nine games into the season Bloor’s men had scaled the heady heights of third spot. Then a disastrous run of seven straight defeats, including a 4-2 reverse at Champion Hill, sent the side spiralling down the table. Two months after Maidstone’s 3-0 triumph had the Saffrons had seemingly set Town on a one-way ride into oblivion. Victory was finally tasted once and how sweet it was coming at the expense of Sussex rivals Burgess Hill Town on Boxing Day. Wins over fellow strugglers Three Bridges and Whitstable steadied the ship and though Walton Casuals threw themselves a lifeline with a 2-0 win at the Saffrons; Town continued to build a buffer between themselves and the relegation trapdoor. The revival coincided with the return of Ross Treleaven, a precocious young wingman, who bagged a hat trick away to Hythe Town, a feat that would many teams would envy.

It is in the likes of youngsters such as defender Dan Bolwell that Bloor is placing the future stock of Eastbourne. However whilst youth plays an important role at the Saffrons the side boasts a great deal of experience in the likes of Sonny Cobbs, a footballer cast from the old school mould, Jon Lansdale, Luke Denton, Danny Curd and the Crabb brothers, Sam and Matt. With injuries have taken their toll this term, unfortunately rarely has Bloor been able to call upon his strongest squad.

Gavin Rose may well have a key injury to cope with this afternoon after Kevin James was forced off earlier in Tuesday night’s League Cup semi-final clash with Thamesmead. However he will be able to call upon the services of Ryan James to line up against one of his former sides after the Hamlet full back sat out that game suspended.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm and takes place at The Saffrons, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1EA, directions here.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £8 for Adults
• £4 for OAPs
• Under 16s FREE

Programmes: £1.50