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

Dulwich Hamlet will be aiming for their first win double of the campaign when they entertain Harlow’s Hawks at Champion Hill tonight.

So tight are the chasing pack outside the playoff places that though Dulwich Hamlet may be six places higher up the ladder than their visitors this evening just a single point separates Gavin Rose’s men in 7th spot from Danny Chapman’s team currently sitting 13th. Remarkably the Hawks are one of SEVEN clubs in the Ryman Premier Division who have amassed 17 points. Were it not for an away record of just two points from 7 outings, the Essex side might well be challenging amongst the playoff spots.

That stingy return from their travels is in stark contrast to that at the Harlow Arena where just two sides have departed with anything other than a nil return. One of those was AFC Sudbury whose own experience of an artificial surface plus prior knowledge of the Hawks from last season’s Ryman North campaign must have assisted. The other Dulwich Hamlet, bouncing back from conceding an early goal to a header from Alex Reed in the 8th minute. On a balmy evening in the new town, aided and abetted by a bravado performance in goal from Preston Edwards, Dulwich Hamlet fought back from that early deficit, scoring twice in six minutes to turn the game on its head. On 67 minutes Ashley Carew larruped home a pile driver of a shot into the top corner that fair ripped the netting from its moorings. Six minutes later and Danny Carr rose above the crowd to nod home the match winner.

Yet whilst Dulwich failed to take the momentum through from this dogged fightback unable to win a league game for more than a month before the 6-1 slaughter of Folkestone Invicta, Harlow rebounded quickly, unbeaten in the league until the aforementioned AFC Sudbury game the same day. The only dampener was exit from the FA Cup away to King’s Lynn Town, a dire game enlivened, if that is the right word, by a grand total of FOUR red cards. Jared Small started the procession towards the showers, picking up two cautions in the small of just three minutes in the first half. The goal that would settle the game came from Gary Mills’ close-range header with 12 minutes left but the talk over the post-match pints was of a mass brawl soon after. It all erupted after a poor challenge from Syrus Gordon who took the long walk of shame, swiftly followed by goal scorer Mills and his partner-in-crime Leon Mettam, leaving the game 9-apiece. More controversy at the death as the King’s Lynn ‘keeper dropped a cross over his own line, only for the assistant to spot an infringement to chalk off the “goal”.

Following defeat to the Suds, Harlow once more made full use of home advantage to hand highflying Needham Market their first defeat on the road, and boy was it a doozy! Ahead through Fabion Simms on 13 minutes Harlow added a second through Mario Noto 20 minutes before Joe Benjamin rumbled through the defence to make it 3-0. Bang on the break the Marketmen got a much needed break as Darryl Coakley intended cross curled into the net but with Layne Eadie and Alex Read bagging more goals soon after the interval, the Hawks had disappeared over the horizon with the points with more half-an-hour left on the clock.

The Harlow hodophobia returned with their next three games, all on the road, ending in comprehensive losses. At Lowestoft Town, the Trawler Boys ran in four goals without reply, Jake Reed bagging a hat trick for the hosts. Away to Grays Athletic, Ibrahima Sonko’s goal provided little solace as the Gravelmen picked up a rare three points and against Havant & Waterlooville the goals positively rained in with hotshot hitman Jason Prior striking three times for the hosts in a 5-2 triumph. Last Saturday it seemed as if Staines Town might become the first team this season to stop Harlow scoring at home but with five minutes left Bamba Ngamb’s close-range finish secured all three points to maintain a home record bettered only by Havant & Waterlooville, Leiston and Bognor Regis, three of the top four.

This afternoon’s game takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD, kicking off at 7.45pm. Main turnstiles will be open from 6.15 pm with the Greendale turnstiles also open from that time. Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception which Season Ticket holders may also use on display of their season ticket.

Admission prices:

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Programmes: £2