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IT’S ALL UP FOR GRABS TODAY AS DULWICH TRAVEL TO WINGATE & FINCHLEY

IT’S ALL UP FOR GRABS TODAY AS DULWICH TRAVEL TO WINGATE & FINCHLEY

Paula Griffin22 Apr 2017 - 10:10
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The destination of the Ryman Premier title & the composition of the playoffs still remain undecided as Hamlet travel north to Summers Lane

At the top of the table Havant and Waterlooville’s single victory over South Coast rivals on Easter Monday allowed the Hawks to grab the steering wheel as the battle to lift the silverware goes down to the wire this afternoon. However that could still be turned on its head should Lee Bradbury's men fail to claim victory over a resurgent Kingstonian whose four game unbeaten run since the arrival of former Dulwich Hamlet supremo Craig Edwards has exorcised the spectre of relegation from Kingsmeadow. Expect no quarter given by Edwards and his revitalised side on an emotional afternoon when K’s bid an emotional farewell to their long time home.

Meanwhile at Nyewood Lane Bognor Regis Town will be entertaining a Met Police, seemingly doomed for the drop just a few short weeks back, with eerie echoes of the 2010-2011 season in the air. Then the Rocks looked to be on course for the Division One South title until the final day of the competition only for a late equaliser at Chatham Town to hand the title to the Police by just a single goal’s goal difference. Hamlet fans will need no reminding of what happened next, when having claimed their own spot in the playoffs on that last day with a 2-0 win at Walton & HErsham, they proceeded to march to a convincing 3-1 win in Bognor much to the opprobrium of barroom pundits having finished 31 points adrift of the Rocks yet only 15 ahead of relegated Chatham. Unfortunately promotion was denied after Dulwich fell to defeat in a dingdong final away to Leatherhead.

So far only two clubs have been confirmed for the playoffs, whoever fails at the final hurdle from Havant or Bognor and Dulwich Hamlet. Yet even that is far from clear after Easter MOnday’s shock lastgasp home defeat at the hands of Grays AThletic denied Gavin Rose’s men the opportunity to claim a playoff semifinal at Champion Hill. Should they suffer defeat at the hands of today’s opponents, Wingate & Finchley, it would allow the Blues to leapfrog the Hamlet into 3rd spot and potentially set up a return trip to the Maurice Rebak Stadium next Thursday evening. Win today and the only way is Champion Hill!

Across North London another winner takes all encounter is in prospect as form side Enfield Town welcome Leiston Town, free scoring early doors as they looked to sweep all aside in an unlikely quest for the title. But with form evaporating fast the Suffolk side have one simple task to accomplish at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium - quite simply they must win with their goal difference allowing them to steal a playoff place from the Towners at the very death. Another Suffolk side, Needham Market, have a faint glimmer of pinching a playoff but with Billericay Town the travellers to Bloomfields this afternoon, the Marketmen need to fell tall trees and climb mountains to gatecrash the postseason party.

From mid table in midseason Wingate & Finchley have manoeuvred their way into the playoff chasing pack, their notoriously robust defence much to the fore of late. It's been seven solid hours of football since D’Sean Theobalds of Leatherhead breached that defence and their last four games have all been won without a goal conceded. Winding back to the Champion Hill encounter on New Year’s Eve, that game saw the Blues take an early lead as, from the visitors only corner of the game, Reece Beckles-Richards, deftly flicked the ball home from close range in less than 3 minutes. The leveller came 18 minutes later as Dumebi Dumaka headed powerfully home from a Nyren Clunis cross but then a rather soft penalty award gave Steve Wales the chance to put the visitors back in command only for Preston Edwards to dive full length, making a magnificent save. Dulwich had a penalty of their own after the break as, shortly after coming on, Danny Carr was brought down in the box. Carr took the kick himself but the effort was feeble and Shane Gore made a simple save as the game moved on to finish in a frustrating 1-1 draw.

This afternoon’s game takes place at The Maurice Rebak Stadium (formerly the Harry Abrahams Stadium), Summers Lane, Finchley, London, N12 OPD. Directors can be found by clicking here.

Admission Prices:

  • Adults - £12
  • Conc (OAP, student, unemployed) - £6
  • U16 - £3
  • U12 - FREE
  • Programmes £2.00

Supporting ID required for concessions or full price admission will be charged.

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