Those three months or so since the opening day of the season at Champion Hill have seen contrasting fortunes for both the Gavin Rose’s Pink and Blues and Dave Anderson’s Red Army. Summer still held sway as Dulwich romped intro an early lead thanks to a brace from Kershaney Samuels inside the first twenty minutes. However, a cloudburst of biblical proportions followed by a three-goal burst inside eight minutes gave both sets of fans a few palpitations in latter period of the game. First Marc Charles-Smith halved the deficit as he found the net on 67 minutes before Laurent Hamici restored Dulwich’s two-goal advantage four minutes later. But, when substitute Spencer Bellotti threw the visitors a lifeline with a quarter hour left it was touch-and-go as to where the points would go before Dulwich eventually emerged 3-2 winners.

Since that day Dulwich have continued to keep pace with the promotion pack even if their form has been patchy. Meanwhile Harrow have slipped down the table, becoming mired into the relegation zone, perhaps distracted by an FA Cup run to the very brink of the competition proper. After a kindly draw saw the Reds post wins over AFC Hayes, VCD Athletic and Waltham Abbey, they found themselves pitted against Conference South side Basingstoke Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round. Some might have consigned those dreams to the dustbin of hope but a gritty performance down in roundabout town saw Dave Anderson’s team come away from the Camrose with a grittily earned point. All back to Earlsmead for a replay but the chance for glory had gone and despite a determined display that took the game into extra time, the fitter legs of their opponents proved too much, the final 4-1 score line to Basingstoke perhaps embellished by two goals in the dying embers of extra time. The following Saturday the FA Trophy went up in a puff of smoke as AFC Hornchurch dumped Harrow out of that competition at the first hurdle

Yet without the distraction of silverware to avert the eyes, Harrow bounced back to winning ways in the league, Nik Salapatas atoning for red card at Hornchurch with the match winner at Kingstonian before goals from Michael Bryan, Marc Charles-Smith with a penalty and Jerome Walker saw them turn over Bury Town last Tuesday evening. Sandwiched by those results, a 7-0 drubbing of Northwood as Borough cruised into the quarterfinals of the Middlesex Senior Cup, though the result might have been clouded by the team selections that night. With a blank Saturday ahead Boro' boss Dave Anderson fielded almost his strongest side whilst opponents Wood were looking a little limp with several players rested ahead of an FA Trophy tie away to Wimborne Town.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Earlsmead Stadium, Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue, South Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 8SS.
Nearest railway stations: Northolt Park (Chiltern) or South Harrow (Piccadilly Line). More information can be found here.

Admission prices: Not shown on website