This Saturday’s Match Preview – Grays Athletic (Home) KO 3.00pm

All back to Champion Hill as a busy Bank Holiday weekend opens with the visit of Grays Athletic.

It has been a stonking start for the men from Essex who currently sit second in the table behind leaders Leiston on goal difference alone. After an opening day draw at home to Hendon, the Blues have built steadily winning their next four league games and knocking Canvey Island out of the Alan Turvey Trophy after a penalty shoot-out.

The season opened for Grays with the visit of beaten playoff finalists Hendon to the Blues temporary home at Aveley’s Field Mill. In sticky and steam condition Grays found themselves trailing at half time to Aaron Morgan’s 15th minute goal. However a second half rally saw the Blues battle though their equaliser was somewhat fortunate as Sam Flegg sliced an attempted clearance into his own net. Though both sides had their chances to settle the matter in the latter stages further goals were not forthcoming.

The following Tuesday the fixture list saw Grays take the trip over the Thames to face a Tonbridge Angels side tipped by some as dark horses in the promotion race after their storming finish to the previous campaign. The omens proved right in the opening encounters with Grays falling behind as early as 4th minute when Tom Parkinson found the net. However a double from Dumebi Dumaka seemed to have the Blues back in the driving seat. The equaliser arrived in the 26th minute when the striker finished off a Nathan Ferguson header across the box before, 11 minutes into the second half, the same player made no mistake to put Grays ahead. However that lead lasted just 5 minutes before the experienced Luke Blewden fired the Angels level. Despite the best efforts of both sides the contest seemed to heading for a draw until, with only a few minutes left on the clock, Joao Carlos produced a delightful curled effort to beat Toni di Bernardo in the home goal, ensuring a full haul of points from the long midweek trip.

A visit to newly promoted Burgess Hill Town was next on the schedule and though the scoreline might have seemed tight reports suggest that the Blues were more than good value for their narrow 2-1 victory. Dumaka was again on the scoresheet with the afternoon’s opener but Grays did not truly turn their dominance into more goals. Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson made it 2-0 just before the hour mark but with Chris Smith pulling one back at the death for the Hillians, Grays almost found themselves bemoaning a host of missed opportunities throughout the 90 minutes.

A short break from League action saw Grays travel to local rivals Canvey Island for the first round of the Alan Turvey Trophy. Unsurprisingly the management chose the game to blood a number of players with a mixture of squad and youth players making up the squad. After a goalless first half, Grays took the lead ten minutes into the second half as James Stevens polished off a free kick with a fine finish, adding a second 7 minutes later when the Seagulls’ Steve Sheehan turned a cross into his own net. Stung into action the Blues pulled back level as first Harrison Chatting scored then Martin Touhy made it 2-2 with six minutes left. The evergreen Glen Little might have bagged a winner for Grays at the death but, with the sides level at the end of 90 minutes, a penalty shootout was need to determine who would progress. Canvey’s Richard Halle missed their first penalty, Blues’ ‘keeper George Kamurasi kept out two of the next three and with Stevens, former Dulwich midfielder Kenny Beaney and Roman Michael-Percil tucking theirs away it was the visitors who advanced.

After three games on the road it was back to home for the next two games and a brace of Essex derbies. First to visit Field Mill Billericay Town. As the thermometer rose so the football suffered with an uneven pitch taking its toll on either side’s attempt to keep the game flowing. It seemed as if the first half might be bereft of goals but with players and fans alike gasping for halftime refreshment, Fortnam-Tomlinson broke the deadlock in stoppage time with a neat piece of invention. A second half Stevens penalty ensured Grays made short shrift of a Billericay side who never truly clicked into gear.

The scoreline was repeated in midweek as Grays entertained Canvey Island, the Blues’ side almost unrecognisable from the one that had downed the Seagulls in the League Cup. This time goals were harder to come by with a quarter hour left on the clock a Dumaka header finally punctuated a stubborn Canvey defence. Five minutes later and the points were in the bag as Glenn Poole own goal made it a fourth straight win for Blues propelling them into second spot behind Leiston, the Suffolk club having conceded one goal less.

This afternoon’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. As a very healthy crowd is expected, why not avoid the late rush and relax. Before the game 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

• Free with your Dulwich Hamlet 2014/2015 Season Ticket
• £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: £2.00