THIS SATURDAY’S MATCH PREVIEW – BURGESS HILL TOWN (HOME) KO 3.00 PM

Back to Ryman League action at Champion Hill this weekend as Dulwich Hamlet entertain the Hillians.

Something of a bogey side for Dulwich Hamlet down the years, the Hillians make their annual pilgrimage to Champion Hill on the back of successive wins in the Ryman League and in the Emirates FA Cup. Last Saturday they narrowly progressed to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, edging past Southern Counties East Football League outfit Ashford United after substitute Dan Thompson came off the bench to change a game that had all the hallmarks of a scoreless draw until his intervention. On 76 minutes Tyrell Richardson-Brown nodded home a peach of a cross from Leon Redwood at the back stick. Four minutes later Thompson added a second with a mesmerising solo run in behind the Nuts’n’Bolts defence. Though the veteran striker Shaun Welford pegged them back with an 83rd minute goal, the Kent side throwing the kitchen sink at their hosts in the closing exchanges, the Hillians held firm at the back to book an away day at Kempston Rovers next week.

Like the Hamlet, Burgess Hill Town’s league form has been patchy. Following a preseason preamble that saw Ian Chapman’s squad go down to defeat in five of their seven games, Hillians opened their Ryman League campaign with a long trip up to Needham Market. Trailing until the 84th minute after Jack Curtiss had opened the scoring for the Marketmen after just ten minutes, Richardson-Brown’s arrival as substitute proved key as his late goal ensured a share of the points.

Entertaining one of the pundits’ favourites to be in the end of season mix, Tonbridge Angels, Burgess Hill had chances to take the lead with the game still locked in a goalless stalemate. The home goal had a major let-off in the early stages when a Tom Parkinson header bounced up and away off the crossbar before Josh Jones denied Nathan Elder with a top-drawer but on 24 minutes the Angels found their wings as Nicky Wheeler drilled one home. Three minutes from time Tonbridge doubled their lead as Wheeler’s cross evaded Elder only to find sub Bradley Fortum-Tomlinson who slammed the ball home. Deep into injury time Lee Harding did find the back of the net but by then it was too late to salvage anything from the game.

Blustery conditions at home to Enfield Town the following Saturday made for an unentertaining game but it proved fortuitous for the Hillians as they bagged their first victory of the new season right at the death. Chances had been conspicuous by their absence until almost the last gasp but out of the blue came the winning goal. At one end Enfield Town found a mighty cry for a penalty falling on deaf ears. Lee Harding motored off down the left flank, his frim strike pushed out by Nathan McDonald but pounced upon by Thompson to prod into the back of the net. On such twists are points won and lost.

Chapman’s side followed that first win of the new season with a point on Hendon’s new 3G pitch at Silver Jubilee Park. Following a first half bereft of all but the briefest of action, the traveling Hillians grabbed the lead as poacher Thompson snaffled up Joey Taylor’s parried shot to find the back of the net. Yet a win was denied as Hendon grabbed a late, late leveller to make it one apiece at the last blast.

A long trip away to unbeaten leaders Leiston was always going to be tough no more so than when your team is shy of key players like Pat Harding. So it was the 100% Blues carried on with their winning ways, bagging two late goals in the last ten minutes to send the Hillians wending their way home from far distance Norfolk pointless.

The Bank Holiday Monday fixture at home to Folkestone Invicta produced a flurry of goals as Hillians bagged a second league victory of the season to move up into the top half of the table. Invicta struck first as the experienced Ronnie Dolan curled a delightful free kick from the right-wing after just eight minutes but Burgess Hill were quickly on level terms as Richardson-Brown tapped in from Sam Gargan’s low cross just four minutes later. The Hillians had the chances to take control of the contest with Richardson-Brown and Gargan both guilty of failing to convert gilt-edged opportunities but on the hour mark they went ahead Leon Redwood’s blasted a free kick into the top corner of the net. However, the hosts were pegged back as Ian Draycott equalised with a deft header at the back post on 75 minutes before surviving then a solid Invicta penalty claim after Ashley Miller went down in the box. Hillians rallied late though and regained the lead when Dan Pearse tapped home Thompson’s drilled low cross, the game and the points secured with a late own goal as Nat Blanks beat his own ‘keeper with back pass under pressure from Pat Harding.

Last seasons’ encounters with the Hillians proved less than productive for the Hamlet with the Sussex side picking up four points from the home and away fixtures. At Leylands Park, an error-strew encounter ended in ultimate defeat for an injury wracked Dulwich Hamlet squad. Four goals came in the last quarter hour with Pat Harding’s opener on the half-hour quickly cancelled out by Ashley Carew’s exquisite free kick. Pearse then put the hosts ahead as his speculative shot from distance somehow squirmed under Phil Wilson only for Danny Waldren to level on the stroke of halftime with his maiden goal in Pink and Blue. However, calamity came to call five minutes from time when Andy Pearson’s innocuous-looking cross evaded all and crept inside the far post. When the time came to meet again at Champion Hill come March, once again it was Burgess Hill that grabbed the lead as Joe Keenan volleyed home after an underhit defensive clearance. That 24th minute goal seemed to enough for the visitors as Dulwich huffed and puffed but failed to blow down the Burgess Hill barricades. However, with just eight minutes left Ashley Carew swung in a cross from the left and there in the middle rising highest was Ryan Moss to plant a header home for a share of the spoils.

This afternoon’s game takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD, kicking off at 3.00pm. Main turnstiles will be open from 1.00 pm with the Greendale turnstiles also open from 2pm. 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