Tuesday night saw the Blues in London Senior Cup action, with a last gasp goal from Jaiden Drakes-Thomas ensuring the Blues are into the next round with a 1-0 win. In terms of league action, our last fixture was the Tuesday before, beating Hendon 6-1 in an excellent attacking display from the Blues. On Saturday we are back in league action, travelling to Dulwich Hamlet, hoping to continue the Blues' recent good form.
Our Opponents
In 2022/23, the Hamlet were relegated from National League South despite having the highest average attendance in the league of nearly 2,500. Ex-Barnet player Hakan Hayrettin was appointed as manager in March 2023 after he had left Maidstone United just a couple of months earlier. Hayrettin was unable to prevent Dulwich from relegation but is now the man tasked with rebuilding and pushing for promotion, after having a solid, if unspectacular, first season back in the Isthmian Premier League.
Last season, Dulwich finished bang in the middle of the table, 11th of 22 teams with 62 points, 14 points off the playoff places but 23 points clear of relegation. In fact, Dulwich didn't occupy a playoff spot at all last season, despite being one of the favourites to win promotion at the first time of asking.
So far this season, it has been a much better start, with Dulwich sat in 7th place with 17 points so far (W5 D2 L4); highlights so far this season including a resounding 5-2 win over Horsham and 3-0 win over Hastings, both wins coming at home at Champion Hill, showing what a difficult place it can be as a visiting side.
Head to Head
We have already faced Dulwich Hamlet in the league this season, our first home match of the season saw us host the Hamlet, with a thoroughly entertaining tie ending in a 3-2 win for the Blues. Ogo Obi made himself known to Blues fans on his competitive debut with an early goal inside five minutes, then doubled his tally on the hour mark, before Luke Wanadio netted twice for the visitors, including one from the spot, to level the tie. In the 89th minute, Ryan Lowe stepped up to score an excellent finish from the edge of the area to give the Blues all three points. Last season, in our trip to Champion Hill, we lost 3-0; goals for Dulwich from Anthony Jeffrey, Jerome Binnom-Williams and Manny Parry.
Last Time Out
On Saturday, Dulwich were in FA Trophy action against fellow Isthmian Premier side Hashtag United. A 96th minute leveller from Kreshnic Krasniqi saw the game end 1-1, but Hashtag prevailed on penalties. In the league, the Hamlet's last game was a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Billericay Town. Hamlet were reduced to ten men early in the second half, making it even more difficult to claw back against the visiting Ricay.
Players To Watch
Luke Wanadio is the obvious one to watch, with the winger having netted 11 goals so far this season in all competitions, including a brace against the Blues at the start of the season, Wanadio has also netted braces in the big wins over Horsham and Hastings this season.
Another of the Dulwich side who was impressive in the home match was teenage defender Sam German, who has signed for Dulwich on loan from Bromley for the season, and returned to the Dulwich starting XI on Saturday for the first time since August. The Blues will need to be at their best to get past German, if selected on Saturday.
For the Blues, goalkeeper Charlie Grainger made a couple of excellent saves on Tuesday night to ensure he kept his first clean sheet of the season, and he will need to be at his best again on Saturday against a Dulwich side who score on average two goals per game. In defence, teenage defender Bobby Webb captained the side for the first time, and showed maturity beyond his years to ensure the Blues progressed in the competition. Hear more from Bobby below.
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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