THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – VCD ATHLETIC (HOME) KO 3.00 PM

Dulwich Hamlet might have jumped the gun but Its Non-League Day at Champion Hill; Pay What You Like as we entertain VCD Athletic in the Ryman Premier.

After slipping the knot of the hangman’s noose to escape the relegation trapdoor late last season with a run of six straight victories, the fans of the Vickers might have been hoping for a little respite from the traumas this term. However after picking up just four points from their opening eleven league encounters, without a win to their the name, Keith McMahon’s men find themselves rock bottom of the Ryman Premier League seven points shy of the safety zone. Cup glory too must wait until later in the season with the Kent club already out of the FA Cup, beaten 4-3 away to Didcot Town in a replay, and sent scuttling from the Alan Turvey Trophy by Ryman North side Chatham Town.

After Tony Russell quit the Crayford hot seat for Cray Wanderers at the end of the last campaign, a surprise to no one, VCD moved swiftly to bring in McMahon who returned to club where he had begun his career in management. A number of key signing were made ahead of a tough preseason programme with the manager raiding his former employers for the signatures of experience shot stopper Rob Budd as well the ‘Mead skipper, defender Lewis Tozer, late of this parish.

With games against Bromley and Dartford on the pre-season agenda as well as a tough trip away to North Division runners-up, ambitious Harlow Town, it perhaps came as no surprise that VCD went down in all of these, though perhaps more worrying that nary a goal was scored in those three games. The Vickers at last found their shooting boots with a 4-0 in the last of the friendlies to take them into the season opener away to South Division champions Burgess Hill Town. However, goals in either half from Lee Harding and Scott Kirkwood gave the Hillians the points. Similarly, a trip to Brentwood proved pointless before they exited the Ryman League Cup at the hands of Chatham Town.

Austin Lipman, who scored their sole reply in the Chatham defeat, at last registered VCD’s first league goal of the season as he nullified Nicke Kabmaba’s earlier opener at the Oakwood to secure their first point of the campaign. However, any joy was short-lived as a brace from Pelayo Pico Gomez helped Kingstonian to a full haul of the points at Kingsmeadow.

McMahon turned to familiar face to help alleviate the goal-scoring drought with the evergreen Paul Vines signing on the dotted line in time for the visit of Needham Market to Oakwood. The faith of the manager in the old warhorse was swiftly repaid as Vines bagged the opener against last season’s North Division champions but an Adam Mills equaliser within 11 minutes meant the spoils were shared.

Like summer lightning the VCD revival seemed to vanish in a flash. They found no Angels of Mercy waiting for them at Tonbridge as the hosts rattled up seven goals without reply through six different scorers, Tom Phipp, Nick Wheeler (2), Charlie Webster, Tommy Whitnell, Nathan Elder and Tom Parkinson. However, against Lewes at home they managed to stem the flood holding the Rooks to a goalless draw.

The return match with Kingstonian at Oakwood saw the horrors return as Ricky Sappleton bagged a brace in a 3-0 win before the FA Cup took over, Vines putting the Vickers into the lead against Didcot Town and on their way into the hat until Mark James forced a replay 6 minutes from time. The replay proved to be a thriller but without a happy ending as the two sides traded six goals before Adam Learoyd killed off the Vickers in the 90th minute to seals a 4-3 win.

At least away to the Met Police the late goal came in favour of VCD as Tozer snatched an 89th minute equaliser but wins still eluded the team. A brace from Canvey Island’s Martin Tuohy meant Aaron Wickham goal counted for naught in a 2-1 defeat in Essex whilst at home to Billericay Town Vines took his tally for the season to four with a double only for Mike Fondop Talom to clinch a 3-2 win for the men from Essex, sending VCD to the bottom of the table once more.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00pm at Champion Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich SE22 8BD.

As this is Dulwich Hamlet’s Non-League Day promotion admission is “Pay What You Like” so you can be as generous as you want. All profits from the game will be shared between the British Heart Foundation and this season’s charity partner CoolTan Arts. Gates open from 12.30pm