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

Dulwich’s penultimate home Ryman League match sees the Trawler Boys of Lowestoft hove into view.

It’s been a trying season for the Suffolk side on their return to the Ryman League Premier Division following relegation on goal difference from National League North at the end of the previous campaign. After a season that had taken the Trawler Boys across the country, yomping north to the likes of North Ferriby United and FC United of Manchester, going west towards the Welsh Marches to face the Cities of Gloucester and Worcester, the strain must be heavy on pockets and players alike. Fortunately given the town’s geographical location at the most easterly tip of mainland England, opponents in that direction tended to suffer from waterlogged pitches most Saturdays. With their nearest neighbours in National League North, Boston United, a mere 106 mile, 2½ hour expedition through the Norfolk Fenlands to York Street, a return to the Ryman League might have come as some relief to the travelling Lowestoft faithful clocking up the miles. After all Den Haag in the Netherlands is only a few miles further as the crow flies. Spreekt u Nederlands?

Behind the scenes, a row was being to ferment between the club and its Academy providers, one that would restrict the availability of young players to manager Ady Gallagher’s squad. However, come the opening day of the season, and the long hike down to the Sussex coast, Lowestoft got off to a cracking start as a Chris Henderson double helped put a spanner in the works of Bognor Regis Town. Nevertheless that off-field dispute between the two parties would severely impact on the Lowestoft squad. Against Histon in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round manager Gallagher found himself with just four substitutes, two of whom were goalkeepers and another a trialist. The affair would ultimately culminate in the departure of forwards Michael Spillane and Danny Crow from Crown Meadow.

Back to on field matters and the Trawler Boys form continued to crest the waves and plumb the troughs. From flirting with the relegation places in mid-September to the very brink of the play-off spots in early December after a 5-2 win at Kingstonian. That afternoon Lowestoft had the K’s on the ropes from the off running up a 4-0 lead by the 23rd minute, Jake Reed bagging a brace only to blot is copybook with a red card 12 minutes from time. Unfortunately, it was to be a high point of the season, in the League at least, as the side’s inability to build on that win and string together the results needed to maintain a play-off challenge saw Lowestoft slink back into the midtable morass. It was not until the latter days of February that the team finally got back into gear, claiming five league victories on the spin, Unfortunately the results served only to cement their position, becalmed in 11th spot for the best part of a month and watching on as a chockfull crowd pursued pell-mell the playoff places without them.

However, if the League season has petered out with playoffs only within the reach of a mathematical madman and relegation as threatening as a cocker spaniel on Valium, the chance to lay their hands on the Suffolk Premier Cup for an unprecedented third year in a row awaits the club. Having comfortably seen off Newmarket Town last month, the Trawler Boys can now look forward to facing Ryman Premier rivals Needham Market in the final of the competition on Monday May 8th at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium looking to add to wins in 2015 over Whitton United and 2016 over Leiston.

Saturday’s game presents Dulwich Hamlet with the opportunity to complete the treble over their Suffolk guests, having already won twice at Crown Meadow in the current campaign. Back in early October the Hamlet made the long journey north on a chill Tuesday night, the game rearranged due to Dulwich progression in the FA Cup. The Trawler Boys came into the game on the back of a 7-0 double over Essex clubs, having won comfortably 3-0 away to Grays Athletic before bringing Harlow’s Hawks down to earth as Jake Reed helped himself to a hattrick in a 4-0 win at Crown Meadow. Meanwhile the Hamlet’s form was mixed, previous games having veered from the sublime to the ridiculous, a 6-1 demolition of Folkestone Invicta a fortnight earlier, swiftly followed a 4-1 home capitulation to Harrow Borough before a gladiatorial display in a 2-2 draw at Enfield Town. The bookies might have favoured the hosts but once Nyren Clunis had snaffled the ball from a defender before running on to slot home, it was the Hamlet in the ascendancy. The Dulwich defence proved admirably to a man, rarely giving their protagonists a sniff as Danny Carr curled home a beauty from 18 yards and Nyren Clunis left the home defence choking on his dust as he ran on from the halfway line to slot number three past an advancing ‘keeper.

It was a much tighter affair when the two sides came together at the end of that month, this time to contest a Buildbase FA Trophy First Qualifying Round tie. Dulwich drew first blood in the 21st minute. Vas Karagiannis, newly arrived on loan from Maidstone United to join his comrade-in-arms at the Gallagher Stadium, Dumebi Dumaka, scored from the most impossible of the angles at ‘keeper Josh Glover’s back post. However, the Trawler Boys were always a threat and after seeing chances denied by Preston Edwards found a leveller as Adam Smith pounced on a blocked shot to drive home from the edge of the area. 12 minutes from time Dulwich regained the lead with what proved to be the decisive goal. Ashley Carew turned inside his man outside on the left and his cross was met by Danny Carr with a looping header over Glover and just under the crossbar. The home side had a late shout for a penalty, but the referee ruled, quite correctly as evidence from Dulwich Hamlet TV later proved, that the ball had not been handled.

And so to Saturday. The game kicks off at 3.00 pm and takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. Turnstiles open just after 1.00 pm and all the usual outlets will be in operation including the outside bar. They’ll be a few surprises on offer in both so keep your eyes on the official Dulwich Hamlet Twitter feed @DulwichHamletFC for details.

Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception as may Season Ticket holders on presentation of their Dulwich Hamlet 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

Tickets can be purchased on line via SEE Tickets by clicking here

Programmes: £2