THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – NEEDHAM MARKET (HOME) KO 3.00PM

It’s a first for the Pink & Blues this weekend as Dulwich Hamlet welcome last season’s Division One North Champions, Needham Market, to Champion Hill

From the lowly reaches of Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Division One just over a decade ago, the Marketmen have embarked on a meteoric climb up the pyramid culminating in the clinching of last season’s Ryman League Division One South title. It took until the final day before the silverware could be claimed with Needham Market engaged in a titanic battle throughout the season with Harlow Town, the championship finally claimed on the last day of the season with a comprehensive 5-0 win away to Chatham Town. Just reward for the Marketmen indeed who, despite modest ambitions of consolidation with the Isthmian League, had consistently challenged after their promotion from the Eastern Counties League as champions in 2009/2010, the first time this honour had come the way of Bloomfields.

Their first season seemed to see them on an exorable march to the title only to be overhauled by East Thurrock at the death before losing out in the playoff semi-finals to Brentwood Town, a defeat made all the more galling as the Essex team had finished some 18 points behind them.

Undeterred the Marketmen mounted a strong challenge the following season but slipped out of the race for the sole automatic spot after a slew of bad results at the turn of the year. The playoffs loomed after Needham Market finished fourth having bagged more than a century of goals but the season took its toll in the playoff final as the went down 1-0 to runners-up Enfield Town 36 towns after a dingdong 4 win over Tilbury in the semi-final 36 hours earlier.

The less said about the 2012/2013 campaign the better as a long barren spell of results saw a change in the managerial hot seat and a disappointing finish of 15th. Back to the drawing board and fifth spot in the division achieved with a stonking 7-1 win on the final day of the season but once more the playoffs would prove their down as eventual winners Witham Town sneaked through by the only goal in the semis. Some consolation though as the Marketmen reached the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup before going out 1-0 at home to Cambridge United in front of a record gate at their Bloomfields home of 1,784.

Finally, in 2015, after all the heartbreak of seasons gone by, the Marketmen could rejoice in success. No agony of the play-offs this time though it still went down to the wire as Needham Market entered their final game away to Chatham Town knowing anything but a win and Harlow Town could sneak in and pinch the title from them. It took half-an-hour before the deadlock was broken but once Ian Westlake’s volley found the net there was no looking back. Michael Brothers added number two with a stunning bicycle kick before the break. Kem Izzet smacked a spot kick home moments after the restart, set up Sam Newson for number four before Adam Mills put the icing on the cake with a fifth in the dying moments. Cue the celebrations.

However, life in the upper echelons of the Ryman League provided a rude awakening for the newly promoted champions as the Marketmen found themselves languishing in the basement. Of their opening dozen league games they failed to secure a single win and it was not until Michael Brothers goal secured victory over fellow strugglers Lewes on Saturday 3rd October that the fans could celebration three points. That barren periods had also seen the Marketmen all at the first hurdle in the FA Cup as Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Premier League side Stanway Rovers dispatched them 3-0 in a replay.

Despite new faces in the ranks and the return of influential midfielder Brothers after a summer departure the struggles continued. Points proved to be at a premium as others avenues to silverware were closed off. The quest for the Alan Turkey Trophy ended in a 3-1 defeat at Brightlingsea Regent. The FA Trophy saw Canvey Island win comfortably 2-0 at Bloomfields. As October became November things looked bleak with the Marketmen 3rd from bottom, but suddenly that all seemed to change. A 3-1 defeat at home to East Thurrock to open the month did not seem to augur well especially with one of the title challengers, Tonbridge Angels, next on the visitors’ list. However, something was stirring in the market town and that was Brothers as his brace sandwiched a goal from Nathan Elder to send the Angels into hell. The resurrection continued as Adam Mills’ and Luke Ingram’s goals clinched the points away to Hendon. Brothers was on target again to give the Marketmen a stoppage time lead away to East Thurrock United, a game played with gale force winds ripping across the Rookery Hill all night. Though the Rocks’ pulled a goal back when Harry Honesty’s cross was turned into the net by a defender, the Marketmen were to be the beneficiaries of good fortune as Ashley Miller turned into his own net in the sixth minute of added time.

On the back of this run a trip to another of the strugglers Farnborough Town might have seemed a decent opportunity to pick up another win but Needham found themselves settling for a share of the points as Jordan Patricks 65th minute goal cancelled out Bogdan Vastsuk first half penalty for the hosts. However last Saturday it was back to winning ways, and in some style too, as Brentwood Town were sent packing from Bloomfields on the back of a 4-0 hiding, Jay Davies with an early penalty putting the Marketmen ahead. Further goals from Luke Ingram, Callum Harrison and Oliver Mann made sure of a comfortable win to close a successful month. Though still in 20th spot, the last position of safety, the Marketmen had started to put some daylight between themselves and their fellow strugglers with manager Mark Morsley’s achievements recognised as he picked up the November Premier Division Manager of the Month and with it a new suit courtesy of Nicholas Rowe Tailoring. Morsley and his side were also honoured with the Macron Performance of the Month for November for the first of those victories, that 2-1 win over Tonbridge Angels at Bloomfields inflicting a first defeat on the road for the high-flyers and earning the hosts what was at the time only their second win of the season.

This Saturdays 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 1.00 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. Before the game why not 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 (JSA), 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