Tuesday Evening's Match Preview - Merstham (Away) KO 7.45pm

Merstham beckons as Dulwich hit the road

Promoted from the Ryman South after comprehensively defeating hapless Folkestone Invicta in last season’s playoff final, Merstham might be mistaken for a Dulwich Hamlet Old Boys XI given the surplus of players who have worn the Pink and Blue in past lives. Strolling midfielder cum defender Peter Adeniyi might not have hung up his boots for good after a twilight return to football following his previous retirement at Champion Hill. Come summer he was persuaded back into the action by manager Hayden Bird and is joined by a wealth of others who have graced the sod at Champion Hill. Among their number defensive colossus Marc-Anthony Okoye, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs who was part of the Ryman South Championship team, towering midfielder Junior Kaffo and goalkeeper Yannick Nlate who had a brief spell between the sticks under the 12th Man scheme.

During the close season Bird made a number of key signings to add strength in depth to the Moatsiders squad ahead debut season in the Ryman League Premier Division. These preseason arrivals include three more who will be familiar to those of a Dulwich bent, central midfielder Tommy Kavanagh who has signed from Kingstonian, Michael Abnett who plays on the right and bagged one of the goals of the season at Champion Hill last year albeit in a friendly against Whitehawk and Michael Olarewaju, who excelled at centre-back in last season’s double winning Aspie Academy side. Another of Dulwich’s 2013 Championship side, Frankie Sawyer made the short move to Merstham in the summer after bagging 20 goals for near neighbours Redhill last term. Bird managed to hold on to the majority of Merstham’s play-off winning squad from last season, with the exception of winger Taurean Roberts, who has moved to Portugal. Other new arrivals include left-back Nathan Gordon and left winger Stefan Cox, who arrive from Tooting & Mitcham United. Among those persuaded to stay is deadly striker Tommy Hutchings who often proved the bete-noire of the Hamlet in his Leatherhead days, where he bagged over a century of goals in Tanner green.

Preseason certainly proved productive for the Moatsiders with wins over Chatham Town, Tooting & Mitcham, South Park and Egham Town, draws with Carshalton Athletic and a decent AFC Wimbledon XI; the only blot on the copybook a 3-1 home defeat to beaten Conference South playoff finalists Whitehawk last week. That set the Moatsiders up for an opening day trip to the South Coast and Bognor Regis where they found an on fire Jason Prior lying in wait, his treble clinching victory for the Rocks. However Merstham proved themselves worthy of a Premier Division place constantly fighting back with Tommy Hutchings grabbing a brace before Reece Hall pulled the score back to 4-3 making for a nervy last minutes for the home fans.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm at the Moatside Stadium, Merstham. Directions to the ground can be found on the Merstham website by clicking here

Admission Prices:
Adults £10.00
Concessions £6.00 (Over 60, Registered Disabled, Student Card Holders)
Children 16 and under FREE