(Weather permitting) Dulwich Hamlet travel to the Tanners this afternoon. Pitch inspection expected around 11 am. Result announced as known.

Such has been the nature of this season that a Leatherhead side that found themselves deeply mired in the relegation morass when overwhelmed at Champion Hill back in October now find themselves battling tooth and nail with the Hamlet in the struggle to escape Isthmian South. That challenge was built on the foundation of a dazzling December that saw the Tanners beaten just once in the league and that a narrow defeat as current table toppers Maidstone United squeaked home courtesy of Stuart King’s early goal at Fetcham Grove.

Since the turn of the year Richard Brady, late of this parish, and his men have continued to build up momentum, bagging wins at home to Walton & Hersham and local rivals Merstham, while picking up the obligatory three points on offer from a trip to Worthing. The only stain on the Leatherhead sheets since New Year, a single goal defeat away to another of Brady’s alma maters, this season’s surprise package Sittingbourne. That night Leatherhead’s six match winning run came to a shuddering halt in untidy and ultimately frustrating fashion as another of the Champion Hill Old Boys Club, the evergreen Mark Simmons, the midfielder inadvertently heading the match winner past his own ‘keeper with 70 minutes on the clock.

Tanners’ supremo Brady, a name well known to many of the Pink and Blue persuasion, after past sojourns at Champion Hill has assembled an experienced side at Fetcham Grove, finally replacing early season inconsistency that saw a fine FA Trophy run all the way to the Third Qualifying Round and a narrow exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Blue Square South side Chelmsford City countered by disappointing defeats in the beard and scrape of the league. After so much frustration, it seems that Brady has managed to meld his men into a harmonious outfit that can challenge for the promotion as their predecessors have done. Up front, Brady possesses almost an embarrassment of riches with probably one of the most potent strike forces at this level of football. The stalwart Tommy Hutchings, fiercely loyal despite the temptations laid at his door, complimented by Tom Brabrook who was ever a threat in his days with Sittingbourne. Defence boasts former Hamlet favourite Jamie Coyle who moved from Sittingbourne to the Mole Valley as part of the Brady Bunch whilst in recent weeks Brady has made a number of smart moves to shore up his rear-guard, picking up the seasoned Matt Smart from the Met Police, a vastly experienced central defender who signed for the Met earlier this season from Blue Square Bet South outfit Eastbourne Borough, as well as Neil Jenkins, released by Hampton & Richmond Borough. Jenkins is a vastly experienced 30-year-old left back who started with Wimbledon before moving to Southend United where he made fifty League appearances for the Shrimpers.

Meanwhile Gavin Rose and his men, itching to get back to business after the frustration of last Saturday’s late postponement of their top of the table clash with Maidstone United, might have been perversely glad of the break after a number of key players suffered injuries in the recent league cup-tie with Wealdstone. Ellis Green, who pulled up in that game is surely a shoe-in, though centre half Josh Turner may not be so fortunate. Luke Hickie, the Torquemada of midfield, must wait though with one more game of his ban still to serve.

This afternoon's game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Fetcham Grove, Guildford Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 9AS. Please note that a pitch inspection is planned from 11 am.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £9 for Adults
• £6 for Seniors (65+) and Students
• £3 for Under 16s