This weekend's match preview - East Thurrock United (Home)

Time to smile again as Dulwich face the threat of Sam Higgins and the Rocks at Champion Hill this Saturday.

Friday may be International Day of Happiness but that might pale into insignificance should Dulwich Hamlet regain their promotion momentum with a much needed win over visiting East Thurrock.

Yet like almost every opposition ranged against the Pink and Blue army in the coming weeks, the Essex Boys have dreams of their own, dreams of gatecrashing the playoff party. Currently holding seventh spot in the table, eight points adrift of the Hamlet, East Thurrock are just a point away from the last playoff berth. United are one of an incredible EIGHT teams down to Kingstonian in 11th place whom one could throw a blanket over where one a single victory could lift a team like the K’s out of mid-table obscurity into the limelight of the playoffs.

Perversely this game itches two sides into combat whose form of late has been little to write home about. Whilst Dulwich fans, players and management will need no reminder of the Hamlet’s slump in recent weeks, East Thurrock too have been similarly cursed. Less than a month ago they held a golden ticket for the playoffs in their grasp. However a run of six games without a win had dropped them back into the chasing pack, a Sunday defeat in a seven goal thriller at Peacehaven and Telscombe leaving them 10th, despite a hat trick from the goal machine Sam Higgins, current front runner for the golden boot. Higgins is the league’s leading scorer by a country mile and has already scored 39 goals in the current campaign.

Yet the Isthmian mad game of snakes and ladders took another twist a week later. There was a curious absentee in the home lineup as a Higgins-free East Thurrock took on Hampton and Richmond Borough at Rookery Hill; but still United bagged a crucial late win thanks to an 82nd minute Max Cornhill goal, his first since returning to the club from Dartford. The win left the Rocks just a point behind fifth-placed Met Police in the final play-off position.

And so the scene is set, with nine bookings to his name and a suspension not far away one might speculate why Higgins was absent last week but barring the amputation of a limb or a damascene conversion to the Seventh Day Adventists, full expect to see the most deadly Essex hitman since (name deleted on advice of webmaster’s kneecaps) in action.

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 12.30 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

• £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