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

Dulwich Hamlet are bound for the South Coast this weekend as Ryman League action resumes with a trip to Worthing.

The Rebels, having led the table in the embryonic stages of the current campaign, had plummeted down the Ryman League Premier Division to 19th spot by late September. However, within a month Worthing had recovered quickly to find themselves back in the hunt for the play off places within a month, 2 places off a playoff place. Yet by the time they arrived at Champion Hill, the topsy-turvy nature of the campaign had cast its spell again as the side had once more found themselves in the bottom half of the table.

That Saturday afternoon saw Champion Hill packed to the rafters as 2032 filled every nook and cranny and they were not to be disappointed as Dulwich Hamlet put in a powerful performance with Maidstone loanees Dumebi Dumaka and Vas Karagiannis wowing the hefty crowd with first half goals. After the Mackerels had floundered in front of goal, Sam Rents and Omar Bugiel spurning chances to give the visitors the lead, Dumaka seized on the rebound Karagiannis’s saved shot to stab home from 10 yards after half an hour. Bang on the break, Karagiannis’s fancy footwork on the edge of the area led the defence a merry dance before picking the pocket of Jack Fagan as neat finish wide of the ‘keeper found the bottom corner of the net. Mark Weatherstone added a third as his deft header from Gavin Tomlin’s cross had Worthing reviewing the situation, three goals down but still playing decent football. The Rebels got some reward for their endeavours when much-coveted striker Omar Bugiel was on hand to lash the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle after Preston Edwards could only parry a low effort from Zack Newton. Ten minutes later and Dulwich Hamlet, in the shape of Ashley Carew, put the tin lid on a superlative victory as the midfielder wove his mellifluous magic with a phantasmagorical free kick, one from 25 yards out that threaded the eye of the needle as the ball arced around the wall before finding the far top corner of the net.

In the ensuing weeks league form continued to be erratic, three games without a win leaving the Mackerels becalmed in the midtable doldrums before a goal-laden run of four straight Ryman victories jet propelled the team back towards the playoff zone. A madcap game at home to Staines Town saw a 3-goal lead after 20 minutes devoured by the Swans by the hour mark only for Bugiel, completing his hat trick, and Lloyd Dawes to salvage the situation as the encounter ended 5-3. Wins at Lowestoft Town (4-0) and Burgess Hill Town (1-0) were followed by another clean sheet as Bugiel bagged a brace, both penalties, as Tonbridge Angels were seen off 3-0 at Woodside Road on New Year’s Eve. The winning league run was snapped two days later a raucous derby day, the points shared in a 1-1 draw with highflying Bognor Regis Town in front of more than 1700 fans. However cruising defeats of first Grays Athletic (4-1) then Canvey Island (5-0), Dawes claiming a pair of match balls with trebles in both matches left the Rebels 7th, again the playoff places tantalisingly close.

The renaissance in form coincided with a swift session of giant-killing in the FA Trophy. Victories over Kempston Rovers and Crays Wanderers took Worthing to the brink of the competition proper where the draw brought Hemel Hempstead Town, well-placed in the upper echelons of the National League South, down to Woodside Road. After Dawes penalty had rescued a draw, the Tudors became the first head on the Rebels’ spike as Brannon O’Neill’s goal at Vauxhall Road provided the winner in the replay. An even greater shock was to follow as Dagenham & Redbridge, eying a place back in the Football League, surrendered a 40th minute lead given them by Paul Benson to lose 2-1 as Will Hendon and Dawes, once more, found the net. Sutton United, yet to burst into the Sun-shine of FA Cup glory, were next on the hit list, Bugiel firing the Rebels into a shock lead at Woodside Road only for Roarie Deacon to level for the suburbanites early in the second half. When Adam May put the U’s 2-1 with 11 minutes left to looked to have sounded the death knell for the dreaming Mackerel fans. However, the team found an unlikely hero as teenager Sam Lemon headed home an equaliser with just 5 minutes left on the clock. All back to Gander Green Lane ten days later, the replay put back to accommodate Sutton’s historic FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow, and once more the tie provided ebb and flow entertainment. 2-0 up, and seemingly cruising thanks to goals from Craig McAllister and Dean Beckwith, Sutton were stunned as the Rebels roared back. First Sam Rents struck against his former employers with 17 minutes left, then, with the sands of time almost exhausted Worthing struck at the death to send the tie into extra time. Joint manager Gary Elphick, forced to play himself as injuries wracked the squad, was clattered to the floor in the box and who else but Dawes to step forward and coolly convert the spot kick. However, Adam May’s 102nd minute strike would break the Sussex spirit as Dulwich Hamlet were left as the last of the Ryman League standard-bearers.

It was almost as if the spark of the season had been blown out. The return to Ryman League action the following Saturday witnessed a second half collapse at Harlow Town, the Hawks leading 1-0 at the break, opening that up to 3-0 by the hour. Goals from Dawes (who else?) and Harvey Sparks narrowed the gap to 3-2 with 16 minutes left but all hopes of an unlikely comeback died as Harlow banged home thrice more to run out 6-2 winners. More frantic football followed as Needham Market were beaten 4-3, the game marking Omar Bugiel’s last game in Rebel Red as he bade farewell to the Woodside Road faithful scoring what proved to be the match winner before his departure for Forest Green Rovers the following week. The less said of the Alan Turvey Trophy quarter final the better. Men against boys would be the fairest description of the massacre inflicted upon a greenhorn Worthing side by the financially fuelled bulk of a Billericay side pumped up by the injection of a huge wodge of cash. Seven nil the eventual outcome of a mismatch made in hell. Doubles from Dawes and Louis Clark kept Worthing sniffing at the heels of the playoff contenders as Folkestone Invicta succumbed 4-2 at Cheriton Road, but victory marked the start of a poor run that saw Worthing fail to collect a point in their last four league matches with any hope of sneaking into the playoff all but evaporated. During that time the side have conceded 12 goals over the course of 360 minutes, leaving them eight points off Wingate & Finchley and the final play-off place - in 11th - with 11 left games to go. In that time they have scored just once, who else but Dawes to get it, as defeats at AFC Sudbury (0-1) and Staines Town (0-4 last Saturday) sandwiched home losses at the hands of Enfield Town (1-3) and Harrow Borough (0-4).

If you’re making the journey to Worthing by train this weekend please be aware that planned engineering works mean a replacement bus service will be running between Worthing and Brighton (and vice versa). Alternatively, a supporters’ coach will be departing Champion Hill at 11.00 am. Cost £15 adults and £8 concessions. You can book a seat via the 12th Man Twitter account or direct on 07931 276118.

Saturday’s game takes place at The Bibby Financial Services Stadium, Woodside Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7HQ

Admission Prices:

• Adults: £10
• Concessions: £5
• Under 16s: FREE