Points make prizes as Dulwich warm up for the Cup with the visit of Margate to Champion Hill.

There is going to be a strange feeling around the Hill this evening as Dulwich Hamlet and the Gate go head to head with precious league points at stake just four days before the boys in Pink and Blue make the return trip down to the Kent coast for a much-anticipated FA Cup tie. Both sides will be acutely keen to pick the points; Dulwich Hamlet to keep up the winning run of late after Saturday’s hard-earned victory over Canvey Island made it four on the spin; Margate to put behind them the Saturday horror show that saw their unbeaten run on the road ended in controversial circumstances as ‘keeper Jeff Holloway was left with stitches in a gash above the eye following a clash with Grays striker Jeff Hammond whilst Scott Kinch walked, dismissed following a second yellow card.

Founded in 1896 Margate joined the Southern Football League in 1933. After a spell in the Kent League following World War 2, the team returned to the Southern League in 1959. For a time during the 80’s they adopted the moniker of Thanet United but that phase soon passed and Margate was soon reborn much to the relief of many diehards. After more than four decades in the Southern League the Gate’s greatest day arrived in 2001 when, for the first time since the late 70’s, they were crown champions of the Southern League. With that prize came promotion to the Football Conference, the highest level of English non-league football. However what should have been the start of a new era in the club’s illustrious history instead became a nightmarish time as they were forced to play home games away from their traditional base due to long drawn-out and problematic redevelopment work at their Hartsdown Park stadium. In the 2002-03 season the bulk of home matches player at the Crabble, home of Dover Athletic with just half a dozen matches staged at Hartsdown Park between December 2002 and February 2003; the last games at the old ground. The executioner’s axe seemingly dangling over the club; it was the three years before the club could return to their hometown ground. In 2004/05, out in the boondocks of Ashford Town’s Homelands Stadium, the threat of expulsion from the Conference National and subsequent extinction was overtaken by relegation to the Isthmian League as the Gate finished second to last in the final reckoning.

A return to the Isthmian League allowed them the leeway to return to Hartsdown Park, three years wandering in the wilderness. During an indifferent season manager seasoned manager Chris Kinnear was controversially suspended. Robin Trott was placed in temporary charge as player-manager in April 2006 and, after an unbeaten five game run, was given a one-year contract at the end of the season. After Margate narrowly missed the play-offs in 2006/07, the club announced that Trott was to be given a new contract for the 2007–08 season. Shortly before the end of the season, however, Trott was sacked. His replacement, Barry Ashby, was himself sacked two months into the 2008–09 season. Shortly afterwards, the club narrowly avoided being subject to High Court action over unpaid debts to HM Revenue and Customs, a protracted affair that once more saw the Grim Reaper cast his shadow. Finishing in 19th spot Margate were reprieved from relegation to Division One South, as other clubs across the pyramid fell by the wayside. A late rally kept the relegation demons at bay the following year as returned to take the reins for the vital last three games of the season. The final game saw a spirited Margate side fight back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at home to Kingstonian, costing the K’s a place in the play-offs. 15th spot in 2012 was followed by one of the best seasons for a number of years as the club found themselves challenging for a place in the playoffs. However, after an Easter weekend double with wins at home to Thurrock and away to Cray that moved the Gate into a threatening fifth spot, the wheels fell off big time. With 24 points still to play for the Gate managed to pick up a miserly two and missed the playoff party by six points.

Yet if there was to be a hangover it had passed by the time the preseason preamble got underway, the Gate going through first Ashford United then Hythe Town like a dose of salts, sticking five past each of them, no easy feat in the case of the latter as the Hamlet can well testify. Local bragging rights were secured as a 4-2 aggregate victory over rival anagram, Ramsgate, meant the WW Martin Thanet Challenge Cup was secured. Despite a four goal thumping in the last of the friendlies at home to Eastbourne Borough the Gate went in to the season in fine fettle opening up with victory at Hampton and Richmond as goal in the final minute of normal time from Matt Bodkin gave them all all three points in a 2-1 win. However the boot was on the other foot in midweek as injury-time winner from AFC Hornchurch substitute Ade Yosuff saw the Urchins snaffle all three points in the season opener for Hartsdown Park. A 3-1 win over Harrow Borough got the club back to winning ways before a hard fought draw away to Enfield Town set the scene for the obligatory three points from a trip to Thamesmead Town. The visit of Maidstone saw a crowd of nearly 900 pack into Hartsdown, the hosts happiest as Scott Kinch’s goal a minute before the break clinched the points for the Gate.

A number of tactical and personnel changes were made for the team’s next outing, a Kent Senior Cup First Round tie away to Dover but even manager Craig Holloway was at loss to explain the 8-0 drubbing that ensued. He surely must have been glad to get back to the business of the league and back-to-back 1-1 draws at home to Leiston then East Thurrock United set the scene for the visit of early Premier Division pacesetters Kingstonian in the FA Cup. Despite falling behind to Andre McCollin’s early goal, the Gate rallied with Phil Walsh levelling before the break and Charles Ademeno securing their passage 11 minutes in the second half, Margate hanging on even after the loss of George Craddock to a second yellow with 7 minutes left.

Margate have injury concerns at the back with Joe Vines (hamstring) and Richard Avery (face) unable to play 90 minutes on Saturday and fullback James Campbell forced to fill in at centre-back at Grays.

Goalkeeper-manager Holloway picked up several stitches to a head injury in the Grays clash but valiantly managed to play on. Midfielder Craddock will be available this evening but will sit out the FA Cup tie on Saturday after his sending off in against the K’s.

One player not on the injured list will be Paul Vines who must surely be itching to show the Hamlet faithful what they missed in his short spell with the club.

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

Before the game why not 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: £1.50