THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – LEWES (AWAY)

The Dripping Pan beckons as Dulwich Hamlet make a quick turnaround for Sussex by the sea and a trip to Lewes.

The venerable town of Lewes boasts many historic landmarks, the Harvey’s Brewery, known as the “Cathedral Of Lewes”, several quaint (and not so quaint) hostelries, one of these the site of the deadliest avalanche on record in the United Kingdom, the home of Thomas Paine, writer, revolutionary and philosopher, Lewes Castle, the remains of Lewes Priory and eclectic mix of architecture. Less known to the camera totting tourist is the Dripping Pan Football Ground, but a short hop from the town’s railway station and home to our hosts today, the Rooks, its true origins hinted at in the name. The addition of seats and stands may have detracted from the features the fans’ forebears might have known but it remains one of the more eccentric venues for sport, even if a little susceptible to the weather.

It has been something of season of struggle for the Rooks who needed eight games at the start of the season before they chalked up their first three point return though that took a 95th minute winner from Fraser Logan to ensure a 3-2 win over a Grays Athletic side playing with just nine men for the last half hour. The win marked the start of a mini revival of sorts with highflying Wingate and Finchley dispatched 3-0 in the Rooks’ next outing before local bragging rights were claimed as Sussex rivals Bognor Regis were dumped out of the FA Cup in a replay.

However the unbeaten streak quickly shuddered to a halt. FA Cup dreams died in a 4-2 defeat at Witham Town who lost Ryan Blackman for the last 30 minutes to a red card with the score at 3-1.

On the 18th October the Rooks hit rock-bottom when a 3-0 defeat away to Enfield Town left then in 24th spot in the Premier Division. Yet once more Lewes girded their loins and wrestled their way out of the drop zone, unbeaten in their eight straight league games until a 3-0 New Year’s Day defeat away to table topping Margate, winning four and drawing four. Indeed it might have been 5 and 3 but for conceding a heart-breaking last minute penalty equaliser away to another of the division’s form sides, Billericay Town.

The Rooks also progressed to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy with wins over Harlow Town and Heybridge Swifts (after a replay), the only blot on the copybook a rather humbling 6-1 reverse away to Conference North promotion challengers, Oxford City who rather ended things as a contest with three goals in the first 11 minutes!

And so it may be that much of the personnel in the ranks of the Rooks remain unchanged from our early season encounter at Champion Hill, the mood within the home camp will be more positive. Then Lewes arrived almost as if condemned men dragged to the scaffold. Despite being well below their best, Dulwich managed to inch out a 2-0 win with second half goals from Nyren Clunis and Xavier Vidal, the latter’s arriving in stoppage time. Since then Lewes have added the vastly experienced Tommy Fraser to their ranks whilst for one participant in our last meeting it will be a return to old stamping grounds with Jack Dixon, a Rook that day, now a proud wearer of the Pink and Blue motley.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at The Dripping Pan, Mountfield Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2XA Tel: 01273 470820. For directions click here

MATCH DAY PRICES

• Adults £11
• Concessions £6
• Under 16s GO FREE

Dogs: Please note that for Health & Safety purposes Lewes Football Club operates a strict policy of not allowing dogs (apart from guide dogs) or other pets into the ground on match days.