While the hustle and bustle of the opening weeks of the Premier League taking a break for international competition, now is a good time to look at how Dulwich Hamlet have started the season.
In our season of the Grass Roots feature, we are following the the club, as voted for by fans, right up until the final kick of the campaign as we have done with Sutton United, Croydon and Bromley in previous years.
The opening game of the Ryman Premier League season for Dulwich was a trip to AFC Sudbury but it did not start quite as well as they hoped by conceding a third minute goal. There was no need for panic though as Kenny Beaney scored an equaliser before the break and former Palace youngster Kadell Daniel gave them a half time lead. The hosts levelled things up midway through the second half and the points were rightly shared.
A first home game of the season followed as The Hamlet hosted Enfield Town who took a first half lead from the penalty spot. Nyren Clunis scored right on half time to bring the game level and Daniel Carr scored what proved to be the winner early in the second half to secure all three points.
Another home game followed which ended in a first defeat of the season against an impressive Leiston side who top the currently top the table. It was quite a game as the vistors took a one goal lead into the break but Gavin Tomlin scored minutes into the second half to make the game all square. There was better to come for the hosts as Michael Chambers gave The Hamlet the lead only for Leiston to level in a crazy eleven minute spell at the start of the second half. Two more quick goals sent the travelling fans home happy.
Up next was a trip to Harlow who quickly got off the mark with an early goal but Ashley Carew equalised mid-way through the second half and then Daniel Carr stepped up once again to score the winner for the second time this season.
Dulwich hosted Canvey Island as the opening month of the season headed to a close. Yet again, the opposition took the lead but Gavin Tomlin pegged them back only to concede late on and end the game without a point.
The final game of the month ended in a score draw away at Hendon. The hosts scored an early penalty but it was that man Gavin Tomlin with the equaliser in the second half to ensure the points were shared
RESULTS
- 29/08/2016 Hendon 1-1 Dulwich Hamlet
- 27/08/2016 Dulwich Hamlet 1-2 Canvey Island
- 23/08/2016 Harlow Town 1-2 Dulwich Hamlet
- 20/08/2016 Dulwich Hamlet 2-4 Leiston
- 16/08/2016 Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 Enfield Town
- 13/08/2016 AFC Sudbury 2-2 Dulwich Hamlet
Following a busy opening month of the season, the fixtures come thick and fast in September with the first involvement in the FA Cup for Dulwich as well as the Alan Turvey Trophy. They also have five league games to contend with as they look to break into the top ten of the Ryman Premier League with two away trips with three at home.
FIXTURES
- 03/09/2016 Pagham (a – FA Cup)
- 10/09/2016 Burgess Hill Town (h)
- 13/09/2016 Grays Athletic (h – Alan Turvey Trophy)
- 17/09/2016 Lowestoft Town (a)
- 20/09/2016 Metropolitan Police (a)
- 24/09/2016 Folkestone Invicta (h)
- 27/09/2016 Harrow Borough (h)
LEAGUE TABLE
Dulwich end the month of August in eleventh place in the Ryman Premier League table with eight points from six games. Level with them on the same number of points are Canvey Island, Lowestoft Town, Burgess Hill Town, Harrow Borough and Needham Market. Topping the table with a 100% record are Leiston with eighteen points from Tonbridge Angels in second on sixteen points. At the other end, the Met Police sit bottom with Merstham and Wingate & Finchley just above them, all without a point.
For more information about Dulwich Hamlet, head over to their official website and follow their account on Twitter.
Our next Grass Roots article will be online at the beginning of October. If you are a Dulwich Hamlet fan and would like to provide us with your views on the club in future articles, please get in touch with us.
