THIS EVENING’S MATCH PREVIEW – BURY TOWN (HOME)

After a weekend off Dulwich get back into action this evening as they welcome a travelsick Bury Town team still looking for a win on the road.

It has been very much a Jekyll and Hyde season for the Suffolk side that come into this evening’s encounter having picked up just a single point on their travels this season that from a scoreless draw away to Kingstonian when goalkeeper Marcus Garnham was in outstanding form to keep the K’s at bay. That apart it has been a sorry season on the road for the Blues who have lost six out of seven away from Ram Meadow and whose traveling fans have had only defender Connor Hall’s early headed goal at the Met Police to cheer on their long journeys south.

By stark contrast Bury Town's Ram Meadow ground has become something of a fortress backed by strong local support. Though wins have proved hard to come by, the Blues had proved themselves tough adversaries on their home patch. It was not until last Saturday that they surrendered all three points on home turf with newly promoted Peacehaven and Telscombe completing an early double over their hosts in a rearranged match to plug the gap left by an early FA Cup exit. The result left Bury Town firmed entrenched in the bottom four with just 11 points from 14 outings and goals at a premium, just 8 scored so far in this campaign.

Bury Town’s current woes on the field are a far cry from the heady days of recent years when, after almost imploding in the mid-90s, they came back fighting to earn a place in the Isthmian League less than a decade ago. 2005 they finished second in the Eastern Counties League and reached the quarterfinals of the FA Vase for the second time. The following season saw the club finish second in the league again, allowing them promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League, as well as reaching the semi-final of the FA Vase. Two seasons later the club were switched across into the Southern League Division One Midlands. That same season they reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in forty years, losing 4-2 away to Conference North club Alfreton Town. The 2009/10 season ended with the Blues winning 3-0 on the final day of the season to claim the title, earning promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. The following season they won the Suffolk Premier Cup for a tenth time, defeating Needham Market 2-0 in the final, and also finished third in the Ryman league, qualifying for the play-offs, where they lost 2-1 at home to cross border rivals Lowestoft Town. In 2012, Bury Town lifted the Isthmian League Cup, then the Alan Boon Cup, beating East Thurrock United 1-0 in the final. The following season they came within a whisker of making the playoffs once more finishing in seventh spot, though eventual winners, and conquerors of Dulwich Hamlet in the final, Concord Rangers, ended their defence of the League Cup in the fourth round. Last season however, the tide began to turn, 15th spot in the table their final resting place at the season’s end and this season as proved even more challenging as manager Ben Chenery, operating on a shoestring budget, has lost the services of a number of key players, struggling to find replacements in a competitive East Anglian player market.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

The turnstiles will be open from approximately 6.30 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. As a very healthy crowd is expected, why not avoid the late rush and relax. Before the game enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £2.00