Hamlet enter the Hornet's Nest as they look to build back towards the top..

Thwarted by cruel fate, the elements and the hand of man Dulwich Hamlet look to get back into the groove three weeks after their last Isthmian League outing with a trip to Horsham. Having suffered postponement after postponement Dulwich were then halted in full flight by a major masonic malfunction at Leatherhead that seems to have granted Hamlet’s hosts that day a “Get Out Of Jail Free Card” pending a plea to a higher authority than the Isthmian League bigwigs. But that can be left to the lawyers as football tops the agenda with Dulwich making a return to Goring’s Mead, home of Horsham YMCA who are have found a bed for the homeless Hornets just a breeze block’s toss from their former Queen Street abode.

With Maidstone taking on Leatherhead, a fixture that could inspire mixed emotions in those of the Pink and Blue persuasion, it is imperative that Gavin Rose’s men are at the top of their game this afternoon against a side that have proved stubborn opponents on their day, not least on the undulating surface of Goring’s Mead where recently the Stones came unstuck. But for better finishing, Horsham might have been celebrating their first home win since the start of December, centre forward Ryan Marriott cancelling out Shaun Welford’s opener within 6 minutes. A hard-fought point gathered on the road at Walton & Hersham might have seemed more precious in the dark days of early October when the Hornets hot rock bottom. Yet having climbed into the top half of the table for the first time at the turn of the league with the obligatory win at Worthing on Boxing Day before shocking highfalutin’ Tooting three days later Imperial Fields, that must have felt more like two points lost than one won for Simon Colbran and his men.

The Hornets continued to prove themselves irksome opponents last weekend and though they emerged pointless from the visit of Herne Bay, many of the faithful started to see a chink of light at the end of a long dark tunnel. Whether that light is the Dulwich Hamlet Express heading full pelt towards them, one waits to see. On a fourteen match unbeaten run, victorious in seven of the last eight on the road and well on the way to eighth until last Saturday’s late collapse.

Yet if the Hornets are to prove the party-poopers, they need no stronger stimulant that their trip to Champion Hill back in early December. Coming into that game on the back of a decent run of form including their first win on the road for over a year, Horsham found themselves roundly beaten. A defeat much of their own making as goalkeeper Michael Hunter helped the ball into his own net before Daniel Carr went on to bag a hat trick.

However, despite everything Horsham manager Colbran remains upbeat. Backed by a forward-looking club board whose ambitious plans for a new ground including a 3G pitch have gathered speed of late, Colbran recently revealed that he would not be looking to augment his squad from outside. Speaking to the West Sussex County Times following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Herne Bay, where Byron Walker’s goal in the first half was the difference and having watched his side miss a number of good chances Colbran called on his attacking midfielders to help score more goals, though he will be without the suspended Tony Nwachukwu, the pacy wingman having with some vital goals of late.

Meanwhile Gavin Rose and his men, itching to get back to business after the frustrations of late look to be back to full strength with only Luke Hickie unavailable, his suspension carried on another week after last Saturday’s abandonment.

This afternoon's game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Goring's Mead, Brighton Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5BP.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £9 for Adults
• £5 for Seniors and Students
• £1 for Under 16s