This Evening’s Match Preview – Met Police (Home) KO 7.45pm

There will be a Police presence at Champion Hill this evening as Dulwich Hamlet entertain the Boys in Blue in a Ryman League encounter.

Just a fortnight has passed since these two teams met at Imber Court; Ashley Carew’s double helping Dulwich Hamlet to a rare triumph on the opposition’s turf. That result gave the Hamlet’s season a much-needed kick-start after three games without a victory as following wins over VCD Athletic and Farnborough lifted Dulwich up into second spot in the Ryman League Premier Division. With Leiston not in action until Wednesday evening, there is the chance for Gavin Rose’s men to overleap the Suffolk side into top spot come final whistle tonight.

Yet whilst Dulwich have been building up momentum towards the top of the table so the Met Police have picked up vital victories into their climb out of the relegation some. Injuries and budget cuts may have restricted manager Jim Cooper’s options but his team have risen to the challenge of late. In a repeat of the playoff semi-final of the last campaign, away to a Hendon side struggling to match the feats of last season, the Police shored up a leaky defence and bagged all three points thanks to goals from Taurean Roberts and Joe Turner.

The Alan Turvey Trophy (aka the Isthmian League Cup sponsored by Robert Dyas) away to Tooting and Mitcham must have proved something of a distraction in the battle to stay away from the drop zone but it gave the management the chance to run the rule over some of the Police cadets waiting in the wings for their chance. An early lead given the Police by Mekhail McLaughlin, his maiden senior goal for club, looked to have put the team in control against their South Division opponents. However, a cross cum shot ten minutes before the break saw the Terrors level before three goals inside the closing ten minutes ended Police interest in the competition.

Last Saturday saw the Police face a Needham Market side also struggling at the wrong end of the table; it may be early days in the campaign but this was already a six pointer in the battle to avoid the drop. With few clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities in a cagey first 45 minutes the key moment would come midway through the second half. Ten minutes after being brought on to bolster the midfielder Neil Barrett provided the killer moment with the only goal of the game. Unfortunately, for the luckless Police Barrett managed to break his hand in the course of the game meaning he is unlikely to feature in squad selection for a time. Having welcomed back erstwhile Dulwich Hamlet defender Steve Sutherland back from injury for that game, Cooper must have wondered whether a curse need to be lifted from Imber Court!

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 6.00 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. 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 (JSA), 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