THIS SATURDAY’S MATCH PREVIEW – HENDON (HOME) EMIRATES FA CUP KO 3.00PM

Champion Hill will be bathed in the magic of the FA Cup this weekend as Gavin Rose’s men take on Ryman League rivals Hendon for the right to progress.

When Hendon’s ball was pulled out of the venerable velvet sack at the Football Association’s Wembley HQ just under a fortnight ago, it hardly brought the tremors of excitement that a big name visitor or a trip in the unknown might have done. However, Dulwich Hamlet’s meetings with Hendon down the years have so often proved intriguing ones, the formbook redundant and the tension high. So it may prove tomorrow afternoon at 3.00 pm when the whistle blows and the latest instalment of our long rivalry with the Dons opens another chapter this time with a place in the Third Qualifying Round of the world’s oldest cup competition at stake.

In the Ryman League, the two clubs’ records are almost identical, both Dulwich Hamlet and Hendon having won two, drawn three and lost two of their seven outings so far. Hamlet sit 13th, the Dons 14th separated by just a single goal’s goal difference. Unsurprisingly then, perhaps, that their meeting league meeting back on a sizzling Bank Holiday Monday over at Silver Jubilee Park finished in a 1-1 draw. This was a game for the cliché lovers, one of two halves with Dulwich Hamlet putting on a true Jekyll and Hyde performance. Never at the races in the first 45 minutes, Gavin Rose’s men trailed to an early Spencer McCall penalty after just eight minutes but with the introduction of Roman Michael-Percil at the break it was a horse of different colour for the remainder of the game. Leading scorer Gavin Tomlin pulled Dulwich level with the Pink and Blues holding the upper hand but unable to add to their tally before the final whistle.

Following that the attentions of the two protagonists turned to their entrance into FA Cup. Whilst Dulwich Hamlet were winning comfortably away to Pagham, Tomlin bagging a brace and Marc Weatherstone nodding in his maiden goal for the Hamlet, Hendon entertained Ryman North side Cheshunt at Silver Jubilee Park. The game was pretty much over as a contest inside the opening ten minutes as Karl Oliyide found the net after just 2 minutes before Mayo Balogun added a sparkling induvial goal 8 minutes later. Oliyide made it 3-0 with ten minutes to go to halftime and though Cheshunt pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time courtesy of Joe Kizzi, Hendon continued to dominate after the break. McCall had a spot kick saved on the hour mark but within 2 minutes it was 4-1, a tad fortunately mind, after Oliyide’s cross struck Kezie Ibe and beat ‘keeper Michael Gooch. Niko Muir added a fifth on 69 minutes as he got the last touch to a McCall free kick, Hendon making Gooch earn his corn in the latter stages but unable to add to their tally with Kizzi providing the only other goal as a last-minute consolation for Cheshunt.

Ryman League action last Saturday sent the Dons on the road to rock-bottom Met Police winless and with 2 points from six games. Hendon’s 2-1 win over the Boys in Blue at Imber Court was well warranted after a battling performance. Finbarr Robins won and converted a penalty after 5 minutes but the Police fought back to level through Rob Bartley early in the second half. However, parity lasted just 8 minutes before Muir restored Hendon’s lead with a precise finish just before the hour mark, a goal that proved to be enough for the points.

All back to your place on Tuesday night for the Robert Dyas Cup as Hendon hosted the Police on Tuesday night. Once again it was a tight contest with Matt Lane giving the visitors an 11th minute lead only for the game to be turned around as Muir levelled and Olly Sprague, newly returned from Welling United tucked home a 58th minute penalty to put Hendon ahead. However, Orlando Smith came off the bench to make it 2-2 with 6 minutes left setting up a penalty shoot out to decide who would progress to face Corinthian-Casuals. In the end it was the Police marksmen who proved most accurate, their ‘keeper Nathan Baxter saving from Sprague and Dave Diedhiou as the Met edged through 4-3 on spot kicks.

Saturday will be the first time the two teams have met in the FA Cup since 2008, when the Dons won in a replay after a 2-2 draw at Champion Hill. Hendon, then playing a division higher than the Hamlet and with World Cup semi-finalist and Ipswich Town cult hero Bontcho Guentchev cheering on his son in their ranks, went into the contest as favourites, that tag justified when Rakatahr Hudson drove home a half-cleared corner. The dismissal of Mo Coly for Dulwich after a second yellow card before halftime left Hamlet with the proverbial mountain to climb but fortune seemed to favour the brave in the second half. Diedhiou had a second Hendon goal somewhat harshly ruled out for a foul on ‘keeper Jamie Lunen, the game spun on its head in the latter stages. Gary Noel came on as a late substitute and promptly levelled within 60 seconds as he rounded Hendon custodian Berkley Laurencin to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle. Two minutes later Marc Cumberbatch put Dulwich ahead after Laurencin fluffed a long ball out of defence but 12 minutes from time Hendon made sure of a replay as Harry Hunt’s surging run ended with a shot in off the post to make the final score 2 apiece.

If fortune had favoured the Hamlet at the Hill, Dulwich would suffer her cruel streak at Earlsmead. First attack and a Darryl Plummer cross squirmed through Laurencin’s hands and over the line or so it seemed to all but the officials. By the 22nd minute Hendon were flying 2 goals to the good and looking to add more. To go in at the break still trailing by those two goals was something of an achievement. However, a spark came in that interval and Dulwich Hamlet threw themselves into the second half like men possessed and with Noel striking a corker of a goal on the hour mark, an unlikely revival seemed on the cards. All Dulwich in a pell-mell last half hour, Laurencin and his defence working overtime as chances were battered down and beaten away. With time ebbing away a glorious chance for a leveller as Scott Simpson’s delightful cross found the head off Junior Kaffo only to be scooped over the bar from close-range as the Dons made progress but only by a whisker.

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 1.30 pm with the Greendale turnstiles also open from 2pm. Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception.

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

Please note that as this is an FA Cup Tie Season Tickets will not be valid.

Programmes: £2