This weekend’s match preview - Maidstone United (Home)

Time to rock and roll as the top of the bill Stones arrive at Champion Hill with the Isthmian title in their sights.

For both Dulwich Hamlet and Maidstone this afternoon’s game could be the one that defines their season. Jay Saunders’ men must better Hendon’s result away to Grays Athletic to be mathematically certain of lifting the silverware, though such is their advantage in goal difference should the Stones match their title rivals result the league should be theirs barring a swing so ludicrous it might send the Monster Raving Loony Party into Number 10.

Given that Maidstone have never dropped below second spot since the opening week of the season, it would somehow seem churlish to deny them the title but, just a fortnight ago, it did seem that might be the case. Pitched against a Hendon side building up a head of steam in the race for promotion despite a punishing schedule of games, the door to Conference South seeming to swinging wide open when the deadly Jay May sent a horde of Kentish travellers into ecstasy with a 15th minute opener at Earlsmead. However ten minutes around the halftime break saw the game and the championship pivot. First Andre da Costa equaliser two minutes before the interval. Then in the 53rd minute Tom Mills saw red after conceding a penalty that Sam Murphy converted and it was game on again in the title race.

Both sides won on Easter Monday but the following Thursday the Stones’ deadly rivals and erstwhile challenges for the top, Margate, did them a favour holding Hendon to a draw in a dingdong battle with more swing than 70s suburban, the final 4-4 result doing neither of the combatants any favours.

Saturday saw Stones’ promotion dreams solidify even more, a tight 2-1 home win over Grays in front of another 2,000+ Gallagher Stadium crowd enabling them to inch a little further ahead of Hendon whose own hopes of victory were dashed by Jordan Hibbert’s last minute thunderbolt that helped Hamlet to a much needed point in their own hopes of making sure of playoff position.

Ahead of this weekend’s encounter that means as much to the Pink and Blues as it does to the Stones, Maidstone boss Jay Saunders was magnanimous about the Hamlet. But despite the rivalry between the two sides, speaking to the Maidstone and Medway News he said there would be no extra satisfaction should they complete the job at Champion Hill. He added: "I enjoy the games with Dulwich, there's always a little bit of spice in them, they are good lads over there and it will be very hard. I wouldn't care where we were going to win the league, I'd just love to win the league."

Supporters are reminded that this fixture will be all ticket. These are still some available and they will be on sale from 11.30am on the day of the match by the Health Club reception entrance.

To ease the flow into the ground in addition to the turnstiles at the car park end of the ground those at the Greendales end of the ground will be open.

This 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?

Programmes: £2.00