THIS SATURDAY’S MATCH PREVIEW – EAST THURROCK UNITED (HOME) KO 3.00PM

You wait nearly six months for a Dulwich Hamlet East Thurrock United game to come along then just five weeks later here comes another one.

Back at the tail end of January Dulwich Hamlet travelled to Rookery Hill, with Dulwich Hamlet top of the table and the Rocks hard on their heels in third spot. Now the boot is on the other foot, Dulwich’s mini-slump in form of late seeing them lose ground on more consistent rivals. Meanwhile East Thurrock United overhauled them, climbing into top spot only to lose hold of that in midweek when Hampton & Richmond Borough maintained their free scoring form of late to bound into the lead in an ever-congested title challenging pack.

That January Ryman League meeting between the Rocks and the Hamlet continued in the tradition of high scoring encounters between the two attack minded outfits. Dulwich Hamlet struck hard, struck early, very early indeed as Ryan Moss’s diving header to meet Jordan Hibbert’s inswinging left-wing cross after just found the back of the net but to much frustration the boys in Pink and Blue failed to extend that lead despite keeping the Rocks on the back foot for much of the first half. That came back to haunt them early in the second when Tom Wraight ghosted in at the back of the box to nod in an equaliser. However, Dulwich nudged back in front with 15 minutes left after Nyren Clunis snatched on a weak back pass to round East Thurrock’s Lucas Lidakevicius in goal and slot home only for the lead to disappear just five minutes later. Rocks’ fabled goal scorer extraordinaire Sam Higgins had been kept in the pocket of the Dulwich defence for all but fleeting moments of the game. Then like Houdini, he escaped the bounds of his watchmen and hammered home an equaliser low beyond the dive of Phil Wilson into the far corner of the net.

That game continued the goal soaked history of this encounter. Last season the corresponding fixture at Champion Hill had served up half-a-dozen goals and an unbelievable cliff-hanger of a finish. East Thurrock had been gifted an early third minute goal through slipshod defending as Mitchell Gilbey capitalised only for Rocks to repay the favour as Ben Wood put through his own goal. Gilbey promptly restored Rocks’ lead straight from the kick-off! Ashley Carew banged home a penalty on the hour mark after a foul on Joey Benjamin, the same player fouled in the 89th minute for Carew to smash home a spit kick for what should have been a winner. However, East Thurrock had other ideas and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, added after Phil Wilson had suffered a broken nose, Ross Parmeneter levelled again with a soft shot that a fully fit ‘keeper might have kept out.

Early in the season the teams had shared four goals in a game that marked the return of Harry Ottaway from injury, capping that with a rasping drive with 20 minutes left to put Hamlet 2-1 up. However again the Rocks found an equaliser late on with defender Paul Goodacre nodding home a corner in the 87th minute. A far cry from the campaign before when East Thurrock had been threatened with relegation, the contests less competitive, Dulwich producing a workmanlike performance to win 3-0 at Champion Hill mirrored by an electrifying showing at Rookery Hill, Erhun Öztümer the catalyst with a hat trick that sent Hamlet ahead of Maidstone United for a few days at least.

Since our January meeting the Rocks continued steaming towards the top of the table whilst the Hamlet’s season seemed to hit the buffers of late. East Thurrock have gone straight from that gruelling encounter with Dulwich into a local derby with Canvey Island, continuing to heap more pain on the Islanders as a Higgins hat trick saw them to a crushing 4-0 victory. Goals in the latter stages of the second half saw off the threat of Burgess Hill as a 2-0 win was recorded at the Green Elephants stadium before Higgins was unleashed on Harrow Borough. Another hat trick from the unstoppable goal machine as the Rocks bounced back from a 2-1 halftime deficit to run out convincing 5-2 victors at Earlsmead. Though they suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Merstham, Higgins first half opener cancelled out by a Tutu Henriques leveller before Dulwich Hamlet loanee Charlie Penny won it for the Moatsiders, it proved merely a blip. The return trip to Canvey Island saw the hosts 2-0 up on the quarter-hour before roaring back to draw level by halftime and take the points in the second half with two more goals. Higgins netted his 200th goal in that match with a late header, as East Thurrock United moved two points clear at the top of the standings with just six defeats in 34 matches.

Last Saturday saw an intriguing pairing between the Ryman League’s top scorers, Higgins and his prolific counterpart from Bognor Regis. Also perhaps a little confusing for fans with both teams answering to the nickname of the Rocks! In trying conditions, it was the those whose job it is to prevent goals that won out with neither Higgins nor Prior able to provide that match winning moment. Higgins might have had that chance to be the hero had the man in black pointed to the spot when Aaron Morgan appeared to be dragged down in the box late on. However, after much deliberation and delay, a goal kick was the outcome as the much anticipated encounter ended goalless.

The point ensured East Thurrock stayed ahead of Hampton & Richmond Borough on goal difference, the Beavers 5-0 win at home on the floodplains of the Beveree not enough to overhaul the (Essex) Rocks superior goal difference. However, with the Beavers rampant again, VCD shredded 4-0, East Thurrock slipped from the summit on Tuesday night.

This Saturday’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

The turnstiles will be open from approximately 12.45 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? The bar will open serving a range of excellent ales including selections from local breweries such as First Team main sponsor Late Knights Brewery as well as Clarkshaws and the Brick Brewery.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (JSA), Full Time Students as well as Serving Members of the Armed Forces and all Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID if requested)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £2-00

(Thanks to Brixton Buzz for the photo)