THIS AFTERNOON’S MATCH PREVIEW – MET POLICE (AWAY) – FA TROPHY

All back to Imber Court as the FA Bigwigs plucked out the Met’s and the Hamlet’s balls together to set probably the least romantic tie of the day!

Just over a month after the two sides battled each other to a stalemate in a game where defences dominated and few chances were allowed to test the ‘keepers, the boys in blue and the boys in pink and blue get the chance to settle the scores, maybe a bit of physiological edge tow between the sides 6th and 5th respectively in the Isthmian Premier.

Since that mid-October meeting Dulwich’s form has been solid to say the least. The Hamlet have drawn their two league outings, 0-0 at home to Hendon and 1-1 in last Wednesday night’s exhilarating encounter at Maidstone whilst putting Chalfont St Peter (3-0) to the sword at Champion Hill in the Trophy.

By contrast the Police have been somewhat up and down, putting down a marker for the promotion race with a midweek 2-0 win at Wingate before slumping to defeat by the same score away to a Lewes side labouring in the lower reaches of the division. They rebounded in the Trophy at home to Billericay seven days later when Ryan James nodded in the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time.

Last Saturday saw the Met return to league action and they looked to on the way to all three points at home to Witham Town when the heavens opened. With Imber Court looking somewhat akin to the death kneel of Atlantis as the rain refused to relent, the referee did his best to keep the game flowing along with the tide but five minutes of the 90 left plus a hefty dose of stoppage time was left with no alternative to abandon the contest with the Police 2-1 ahead. The loss of a potential three points was galling enough but this perhaps paled into insignificance with a season-ending ACL injury to leading scorer Michael Charles.

Two days later and, despite manager Jim Cooper’s assertion that his side made Kingstonian look like the worst team they had played this season for 25 minutes of last Monday’s trip to Kingstonian, the final score was 3-1 in favour of the K’s.

Charles’ dozen goals have proved vital for the Met revival this term and so the baton must pass to Bradley Hudson-Osoi has bagged seven in all competitions so far. Yet it is far from a two man show with a number of players in the scoring mix such as the vastly experienced Matt Pattison, once of Kingstonian, and the versatile Ryan James, late of this parish. Another who has traded the Pink and Blue for the Royal Blue of Her Majesty’s Constabulary is midfielder Billy Crook who has been a mainstay of Copper’s midfield engine room. The Dulwich Old Boys contingent was further swelled with the arrival of Nigel Neita in time to make a cameo appearance as a second half substitute in our earlier encounter with Copper’s Coppers.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Imber Court Sports Club, Ember Lane, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 0BT. Nearest railway stations: Thames Ditton or Esher (South West Trains). Ten minutes’ walk from either and ask for directions.

Admission prices: Not shown on website