THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – LOWESTOFT TOWN (AWAY) KO 3.00 PM

The Hamlet make a swift return to Crown Meadow as they take on the Trawler Boys for the right to progress in the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Less than a month after Gavin Rose’s men picked up a vital three Ryman League points from a long midweek trip to Suffolk, Dulwich Hamlet make the long trek into the East towards the rising sun that stains the blue horizon with pink tinges. An omen perhaps?

Yet when the sides last met it was the pragmatic not the poetic that ruled the roost. Lowestoft, not long relegated from National League North, had just began the recovery from a horrendous start to the season. Ten games in all competition had seen them win just twice, away to Bognor Regis Town and Billericay Town as well as exit both the Emirates FA Cup and the Alan Turvey Trophy. Yet after that nightmarish start the campaign had belatedly burst into life with back-to-back wins against Essex opposition. Grays Athletic had been beaten 3-0 at Aveley’s Mill Field, Harlow Town had been humbled 4-0 at Crown Meadow. Seven goals, four of them for Jake Reed hammering home a hat trick versus Harlow, two clean sheets and a rebirth of hope amongst the Lowestoft legions. Meanwhile Dulwich’s stuttering season had seen them go from flaying Folkestone 6-1 to being humiliated by Harrow 4-1 in the space of four days before a 2-2 draw at Enfield Town steadied the ship.

The Dulwich side that arrived at Crown Meadow that Tuesday night was one infused with purpose, the interminable 150-mile haul up the A11 notwithstanding. Pressing from the start, the Dulwich Hamlet took the lead after just 12 minutes when Nyren Clunis seized on a defensive error to net his fifth goal of the season. Though that slim single goal lead remained at the break, Dulwich had the game by the throat. The second half continued to see Dulwich hold the whip hand, that dominance rewarded with further goals. Seven minutes after the interval Daniel Carr neatly curled a shot around goalkeeper Jamie Waite from the edge of the area before Nyren Clunis rounded off the win in stoppage time, breaking away from his own half and running 35 yards with Lowestoft defender trailing in his wake before slotting the ball past Waite to seal an emphatic victory.

Defeat left the Trawler Boys in 8th spot. Then again their two previous wins had moved them from the brink of the relegation zone to the fringes of the playoffs, the Premier Division table’s state of constant flux making for an intriguing campaign.

Off the back of that Dulwich defeat Lowestoft looked to be heading for another heavy home reverse as Hendon built up a three-goal lead inside an hour with Niko Muir grabbing a pair either side of Casey McLaren’s goal. On the ropes but not down-and-out Lowestoft immediately retaliated as Michael Spillane headed home a cross from Frazer Blake-Tracy, the double act providing an encore with 16 minutes left as Spillane volleyed home his teammate’s cross. In the fifth minute of added time the Trawler Boys played their joker with Chris Henderson smashing home the leveller much to the distain of the ‘Dons who had skipper Chris Seeby dismissed for questioning the referee’s timekeeping far too vigorously.

However away to this season’s dark horses, Needham Market fortune seemed to desert Lowestoft. Danny Gay for the Marketmen gave a goalkeeping master class for the hosts as he kept out everything Lowestoft threw at him. Opposite number Glover was less fortunate, a parried header from John Sands fell kindly for the same player who gleefully tucked away the opener from the rebound. Then with a five minutes left Sands went down in the box, the man in black at first waving play on before pointing to the penalty spot on the advice of his assistant. Kem Izzet made light work of the spot kick to give Needham the win.

Met Police may be propping up the table but, as many clubs in the division will testify, it has not been for lack of trying. Away at Imber Court the Trawler Boys trailed to the Boys in Blue, fighting back to lead only to concede late as the game finished honours even. Orlando Smith gave the Met the early advantage with an 8th minute goal before goals from Andy Fisk and substitute Joel Glover had Town in front. However, another replacement, the Met’s Elliott Charles bundling home an equaliser after Ty Smith’s long-range free kick had cannoned off the upright.

By a curious quirk of fate Lowestoft come into the game on the back of two wins. The first of these came in the Suffolk Premier Cup at home to Ryman North highflyers Bury Town. The two sides shared aa quartet of goals in normal time, Lowestoft leading through Travis Cole, Bury going ahead through Ryan Jollard and Tevan Allen before Michael Spillane’s volley meant extra time would be required to crown the victor. Those additional thirty minutes belonged to Lowestoft with Jake Reed, Travis Cole and Joel Glover all on target in an emphatic 5-2 win. No sign of lethargy as Lowestoft followed up their opening day win at Nyewood Lane by completing a surprise double over title hopefuls Bognor Regis Town, the Jarvis brothers, Ryan and Rossi, doing the damage. Yet it was goalkeeper Josh Glover who earned the plaudits with a steadfast display between the sticks holding the Rocks at bay to defend the lead given by Ryan Jarvis’s early header. That was until James Crane pounced on a parry to wipe out that lead with 25 minutes to go. However, the hosts reclaimed the lead in the second minute of added time, centre-back Rory McAuley thumping a header against the crossbar but Rossi Jarvis scoring from the rebound to end a run of four Ryman Premier matches without a win. Midweek results see Lowestoft holding 11th spot, four points shy of Dulwich Hamlet in the last playoff place, their fifteen games neatly split with 5 of each, wins, losses, draws.

This game takes place at Crown Meadow, Love Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2PA. Please note that if the teams are level after 90 minutes, there will be no extra time. Instead, should it be necessary, the teams will return to Champion Hill for a replay the following Tuesday 1st November, KO 7.45pm.

Admission Prices:

• Adults: £11.00
• Concessions: £8.00
• Child (U16): £2.00