Will Hamlet be feelin’ the Good Vibrations this evening as they take on Premier Division Concord with silverware at stake?

It is all aboard the old charabanc and down the A2 as Dulwich Hamlet meet the Beachboys in the Isthmian League’s showpiece cup on the 3G pitch of Ryman South title rivals Maidstone United. The return to the Gallagher will be triple chance for Gavin Rose’s men. a chance to prove they can play on “plastic” after a disastrous 0-5 reverse here to the hosts that prompted a sea change in the Hamlet squad that proved instrumental in their charge back into contention for automatic promotion. A chance to test themselves once more against one of the best sides in the Premier Division thus proving themselves worthy of promotion back to the top division. Lastly, a chance to make amends for defeat in the final of this competition two years ago at the hands of Wingate and Finchley.

As the other team on Canvey Island, Concord Rangers have oft played second fiddle to their near neighbours as the Seagulls’ eventful adventures up and down the pyramid as well as FA Cup exploits captured the public imagination. However, 46 years after the Beachboys first came into existence; they are at last starting to move out of the shadow of their local rivals. Like Hamlet Concord have been flying high in their division this season and though defeat on Saturday away to fellow Essex Boys, East Thurrock, all but ended their slim hopes of bagging the title, a place in the playoff is easily within their grasp, currently holding on to 4th spot in the table with a goodly cushion of eight points back to the Met Police back in 6th.

Concord’s journey to the final began way back on the 24th October as they made the short journey to Thurrock’s Ship Lane where they took on tenants Romford FC. Surviving an early penalty as Ryan Imbert’s spot kick was kept out by Michael Jordan, the Beachboys took the lead on the half-hour mark as Jason Hallett found the target before upping the ante in the second half, John Easterford doubling the lead before a third was added on 70 minutes with Jerome Walker slotting in an open net after very unselfish play by Danny Spendlove to set him up when one on one. Though Romford quickly pulled a goal back through Imbert’s header, Spendlove himself made sure of advancement to the next round as he curled a free kick over the wall and into the net from twenty-five yards.

That ultimately comfortable win set up Concord for an away trip to Redbridge in the third round, a game that grabbed national headlines as Hallett bagged a double hat trick against shell-shocked opposition. That 6-goal haul took his tally to 13 in just two matches. A week early the former Canvey Island sharpshooter had clocked up an astonishing seven-goal haul in an Essex County Cup match as Takeley were overrun 8-2. Hard to say what was more remarkable, his goal scoring steak or the fact that he had had to settle for a place on the bench in their league match sandwiched between these two matches.

Bury Town proved tougher opposition in next round, battling back after Danny Glozier had knocked in a 49th minute penalty with Concord’s ‘keeper Tom Lovelock making a pair of good saves before Russell Short`s cross was headed home at the far post by Craig Parker. The game could have gone either way with chances at both ends as the spectre of penalties loomed but with six minutes to go Concord skipper Tony Stokes settled matters driving home the match winner.

The quarterfinal draw paired Concord with another East Anglian club, Wroxham. However the weather played havoc with the fixture on the date of the original tie, Concord were left kicking their heels as snow drifts blocked the Yachtsmen’s path south. At first it seemed Concord might be awarded the tie but common sense prevailed only for the second attempt to play the match also fall foul of the weather. At the third time of asking it was all systems and after a tepid first half, goal machine Hallett was at it again to give his side the lead, Ade Osifuwa sinking the Yachtsmen with a second three minutes from time.

The semi-final saw FA Cup heroes Hastings making the long trip up to Essex having recently departed the Aspect Arena with their tails between their legs after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the Beachboys. For a time it seemed as if vengeance might be on the cards but once Glozier polished off a penalty midway through the half Concord took the game by the scruff of the neck. Spendlove quickly bagged number two with a few minutes of the restart but with the hosts on cruise control, an eerie mist swept in from the Thames to envelop the Arena. A quick confab between the man in black and the two captains saw the game continue despite the murk and amid the gloom skipper Stokes made sure of his team’s place in the final as he killed off Hastings’ hopes with a third goal.

Dulwich’s road to Maidstone began on a chill night down on the south coast as the draw sent them down to Eastbourne. With a number of changes from the weekend league action, including the manager himself, Dulwich made hard work of things though the early loss of centre half Ton Sinclair forced a distracting reshuffle. Matters were made worse when a hotly disputed penalty allowed Matt Geard to smash home the evening’s opener past James Tedder. However a cracking finish from Frankie Sawyer levelled matters before Erhun Öztümer ghosted in between two giant defender to nod home a 87th minute winner. The boot was on the other foot on the next round as Herne Bay hit the road to town just three days after a narrow defeat at Champion Hill in the league. However, Dulwich were not in kind mode and playing some excellent football ravaged their Kentish opponents, Daniel Carr bagging four in a 5-1 rout.

Round four saw Dulwich come face to face with Premier Division opposition for the first time in the competition as they were paired with title challenging Wealdstone. After a late postponement put paid to the first attempt to play the game, the two teams finally met on the 15th Janaury. The first-half display was a pleasure to watch, as the Premier Division outfit struggled to contend with Dulwich’s pace and movement; unfortunately, there was nothing to show for it by the break, due to a combination of bad luck and poor finishing. The decisive goal came four minutes into the second half. Following a corner from the left, Josh Turner had a header parried by Stones’ ‘keeper Rikki Banks, but Ryan James was on hand to slam home the loose ball.

In the quarter final Dulwich found themselves facing yet another Premier promotion hopeful as Kingstonian were booked to come to town. However, the cruel winter weather intervened before finally, at the fourth time of asking, Dulwich were able to the tie. Despite an early deficit, the Hamlet lads gave another encouraging display to run out comfortable 4-1 winners. Jack Barton’s opportunist goal after four minutes might have had some feeling the cup chase was over particularly as Phil Wilson was kept busy between the sticks by the K’s. However, Dulwich gradually wheeled their way back into contention with Daniel Carr tucking home the equaliser. The dismissal of K’s ‘keeper Louis Bragg for handling outside his area stymied the visitors and Dulwich took advantage of their numerical superiority making it 3-1 in double-quick time after the break as first Daniel Carr then Erhun Öztümer found the back of the net before the latter wrapped things with number four late on.

A penalty shootout victory over Thamesmead in the semi-final (after being 1-1 at 90 minutes) gave The Hamlet their place in the final next month.

The semi-final was an all division one affair, North vs. South with Thamesmead, building up a head of steam at the top of the former division, paying a call on Champion Hill. There was no shortage of excitement on the night as Hamlet sunk the ‘Mead Town in a penalty shootout to book their place in the League Cup Final for the second time in three years. After a blood curdling 90 minutes that pitched the artistry of the Pink and Blue against the industry of their counterparts, the two protagonists could not be separated as Rob Carter’s deft second half header cancelled out Daniel Carr’s poached effort five minutes before the break. It was a pulsating contest that would have graced the final itself but a winner had to be found and from the penalty mark it was Hamlet that proved the deadliest as they triumphed 5-3 on spot-kicks, Dulwich progress to the final sealed as Richmond Ayoola's spot kick send Champion Hill into delirium.

With the joy of reaching a cup final there also comes a little disappointment none more so on the players that will miss out. And in this aspect one’s though must be with Concord Rangers’ Harry Elmes who suffered a horrendous double leg break back in February that caused the Beachboys league match with Thurrock to be abandoned as the striker was rushed to hospital.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.30 pm and directions to the Gallagher Stadium can be found on the official Maidstone United website by clicking here.

Admission Prices:

• Adults £8
• Concessions £4
• Under 12s £2