Christmas on the coast as Dulwich Hamlet head east to Lowestoft Town.

Having beaten the Trawlerboys on the opening day of the season, Dulwich Hamlet will be looking to do the double over a Lowestoft side currently wracked by an injury crisis. On the opening day of the season, Dulwich signalled their intent not just to make up the numbers in the Premier Division, handing the visiting Blues, losers in the last three playoff finals, a surprise 2-0 defeat. Taking the lead through Ellis Green, Dulwich weathered the storm of some meaty tackling that saw Green later dismissed for reacting to one of the less savoury challenges before Erhun Oztumer hammered home a penalty to make it a three point winning start for the boys in Pink and Blue.

Lowestoft swiftly recovered with a 5-0 demolition of the North Division playoff winners, Thamesmead Town back at Crown Meadow and began to stamp their authority on things, their only defeat in August a narrow 2-1 reverse at big spending title favourites AFC Hornchurch.

However with a reduced squad and a diminished budget, the onset of several injuries to key, contracted players severely hampered the Trawlerboys in their quest to make in fourth time lucky in the chase for promotion to Conference South. The FA Cup quickly was scratched from the wish list as Lowestoft fell at the first hurdle, beaten by Harlow Town whilst the FA Trophy disappeared over the horizon as Enfield Town ended the club’s involvement in that competition at the first time of asking. Bury Town did the dirty in the Suffolk Premier Cup registering a deserved 4-0 win whilst Leiston proved less than neighbourly as they thumped the Blues 4-1 at Crown Meadow in the 3rd Round of the Robert Dyas leaving just the league in the headlights.

Yet for all the problems that beset joint managers Ady Gallagher and Mick Chapman, the club still find themselves well placed in the table, 8th on 33 points just three wins shy of Maidstone United who now occupy the final playoff berth after last Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Champion Hill. A further point up the table sits the Hamlet.

Lowestoft Town may have had a midweek reprieve thanks to the weather after Tuesday evening’s scheduled league match at home to Wealdstone was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. It must have given the Lowestoft bosses a few days respite from their mounting injury headaches but their injury problems show no sign of abating ahead of their Ryman League Premier clash at home to Dulwich Hamlet tomorrow.

However, speaking to the Eastern Daily Press, Gallagher revealed the Trawlerboys are likely to be calling for all hands on deck with just nine senior players available for the game after Andrew Fisk (ankle) and Curtis Haynes-Brown (knee) became the latest victims of never-ending casualty curse that seems to have inflicted Crown Meadow.

This afternoon’s game is scheduled to kick-off at 3.00 pm at Crown Meadow, Love Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2PA. However please note that there will be a pitch inspection at 8.00 on Saturday morning. Once Dulwich Hamlet is made aware of the result of this inspection the details will be posted on here. If you wish to contact Lowestoft Town direct their phone number is 01502 573818.

ADMISSION PRICES

• Adults - £10.00
• Student & OAP - £8.00
• Child (U16) - £2.00
• Match day Programme £2.00