TONIGHT’S MATCH PREVIEW – LEATHERHEAD (HOME) KO 7.45 PM

Three points please for the Hamlet & the Tanners but for vastly different reasons at both ends of the table.

After a raft of postponements due to Dulwich’s protracted involvement in the FA Trophy, we finally get to welcome Leatherhead to Champion Hill. Win tonight, the first of two games in hand of most of the playoff pretenders, and Gavin Rose’s men could leap up into third spot dependant on Leiston’s result at Merstham’s Moatside this evening. After Saturday’s late defeat at Havant & Waterlooville thanks to a contentious penalty converted by Jason Prior, the two-horse title race is set for an Easter Monday showdown in Hampshire when current leaders Bognor Regis Town visit the Westleigh. However, the playoff places remain up for grabs with the likes of Harlow Town, in tenth spot, harbouring hopes of gate-crashing the postseason party as just four points throw a blanket from the Essex Hawks to Leiston in third spot.

The same outcome for Jimmy Bullard’s Tanners and the Fetcham Grove faithful might find themselves breathing a faint sign of relief despite an increasingly congested dogfight in the nether regions of the table. After many had wished them “Good luck” in their Great Escape, Grays Athletic’s protracted fight for survival finally ended in heartbreak at the weekend as their relegation was confirmed as Ahmet Rifat’s goal sent the Blues to defeat at Wingate & Finchley. However, the final three places in the drop zone remain undecided with even Merstham in 15th casting an anxious eye find the guillotine blade a little too close for comfort. The Tanners themselves have only recently been lifted out of the bottom four with five victories in their last eight outings, four of those wins against fellow strugglers with successes at home to AFC Sudbury, Hendon and Folkestone Invicta culminating in last Saturday’s crucial three points away to a Kingstonian side seemingly in freefall to Ryman South oblivion. Goals from central half Jerry Nnamani and substitute Nana Boakye-Yiadom paved the way for 2-1 victory over a K’s side extending their winless run in the League to 11 games.

To say it has been an eventful season for the Tanners might be an understatement. Ensconced in the bottom four from the first whistle back in August, it was not until Guy Fawkes Day that they escaped its clutches for the first time as Lowestoft Town were defeated 3-1 at Fetcham Grove. Bu now former England international had settled in the hot seat having taken the reins some two months earlier. For those that at first saw this as a stunt, the eyes had now been opened to the reality of a player out to learn the managerial trade the old-fashioned way. No unlimited taps spewing cash, no marquee signings, just the grind of the non-league game and its troubles and tribulations. A good spell of results as the festive period approached saw Leatherhead climb up the table into a position of some security, reaching 16th spot after a 2-1 at home to the Met Police on Boxing Day. However a nine-game winless run starting with a 2-1 defeat at Harlow Town on New Year’s Eve soon had the alarm bells running once more. A ray of hope came in the goal scoring form of Danny Carr, who arrived on loan from Dulwich Hamlet in early January, making his debut in a 2-2 draw with Harrow Borough and opening his scoring account the following Saturday as the Tanners went down 2-3 at home to Kingstonian. Carr found the net in the next four games including a remarkable 4-4 draw away to Tonbridge Angels that saw Leatherhead’s 3-1 halftime collapse against an Angels surge in the second half. Unsurprisingly the return match a few weeks later finished scoreless. Unfortunately for the Tanners it was one of three matches in four that they fired blanks, though relief came in the form of 2-0 midweek win over AFC Sudbury also sitting beneath the sword of Damocles whilst a single goal defeat at table toppers Bognor Regis Town might have been better welcomed had the club not been in such dire straits. At home to Hendon, yet another club with the trapdoor creaking below them, matters seemed to going from bad to worse as the Dons took a two-goal lead into half time, but the second 45 minutes brought much needed respite as D'Sean Theobalds pulled a goal back before Carr added a brace to his tally to turn the contest on its head. Carr followed that with a penalty to cement a 2-0 win over a Folkestone Invicta side being swiftly sucked into the relegation maelstrom. Opening the scoring that evening was Jerome Federico, newly arrived on dual registration from Hampton & Richmond and he would find the net again the following Saturday to put the Tanners on the front foot away to playoff chasing Enfield Town. Much to the disappointment of the Leatherhead travellers, the E’s would kick in after the interval as Ricky Gabriel and Tyler Campbell gave the hosts the points. However another playoff hopeful fell prey to the Tanners a week later as Theobalds settled a robust encounter with Wingate and Finchley a week later before last weekend’s win over Kingstonian started to breath hope in Tanners’ hearts.

It was early in the days of Bullard’s reign that Dulwich Hamlet travelled to Fetcham Grove to face the Tanners. The Tanner’s had only recently lifted themselves off bottom spot whilst the Hamlet, despite sitting in a playoff place, were going through a sticky patch having been rounded beaten 3-1 at Champion Hill by Bognor Regis Town seven days earlier. Although the game saw a bright start for the Hamlet, fortune favoured the hosts as they took advantage first of a hairline offside call that denied Ibra Sekajja the opener then of a pair of cruel deflections to score twice in 8 minutes. The first came off a Dulwich defender allowing Charlie Harris to run through unopposed before Giuseppe Sole’s free kick cannoned off Tomi Adeloye to leave Preston Edwards wrong-footed. Dulwich pulled one back just after the half-hour when Ibra Sekajja finished off a sweeping multiplayer move smartly turning in Sanchez Ming’s cross from the right. Controversy reigned when the referee appeared to award a penalty after Ibra Sekajja was hauled down by Nnamani as found himself in sight of goal scoring opportunity, only to change his mind on the advice of his assistant. Salt was further rubbed into the wounds as the miscreant escaped with a caution and the free kick cane to naught. There were only five minutes left when the Hamlet finally made it 2-2. Ashley Carew’s 20-yard free kick was parried by Godman at the foot of his right-hand post with Danny Carr pouncing to hammer the loose ball high into the net. Two minutes later Dulwich missed a golden opportunity to win the match when Nyren Clunis crossed from the right and Gavin Tomlin unaccountably side footed the ball over the bar with the goal gaping as the encounter finished all square.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm and takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. Turnstiles open just after 6.15 pm and all the usual outlets should be in operation including the outside bar. They’ll be a few surprises on offer in both so keep your eyes on the official Dulwich Hamlet Twitter feed @DulwichHamletFC for details.

Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception as may Season Ticket holders on presentation of their Dulwich Hamlet Season Ticket.

Admission prices:

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Tickets can be purchased on line by clicking here

Programmes: £2