THIS AFTERNOON'S PREVIEW - EASTBOURNE TOWN (AWAY) KO 3 PM

The South Coast in late December! Sounds like a rest and recuperation cure from Victorian days. Okay chaps, a brisk morning constitutional along the seafront then a refreshing dip in sea water cold enough to form ice in the blood stream! Still after the R&R of the postponement of last weekend’s home game with Walton Casuals, a hard-fought Surrey Senior Cup victory in midweek to restore confidence after defeat to Kingstonian then surrender to Corinthian-Casuals, manager Craig Edwards will be urging his troops on to a morale-boosting performance that could That recent dip in form for Dulwich was halted in midweek as troublesome Camberley Town were eventually dispatched in a 2-1 victory, narrow on paper if less so on the field of play, thanks to goals from Laurent Hamici and Shayne Mangodza. The game also marked a half-century of appearances for skipper Marc Cumberbatch. Tidy performances across the park from a number of players will also prove a handy boost in confidence for the Hamlet as they go into what promises to be a tough encounter, with Eastbourne harbouring promotion ambitions of their own after a difficult debut season last term. Town seem to be in a much more comfortable position this year, currently sitting in 13th spot, their 27 points seeing them five behind the Hamlet and just two wins off the last play-off spot. Though their form can be erratic, they have proved themselves tenacious opponents against some of the division’s top boys, beating Cray Wanderers at the Saffrons, holding Met Police on their own manor, doing likewise to Folkestone at home and only narrowly losing to the likes of Fleet and Ashford.
They certainly proved arduous opposition for Dulwich when the two clashed at quaint Saffrons, home to the Town since antediluvian days, on an afternoon when a latter-day Noah might have scurried for the gopher wood to construct a new Ark. Luck was certainly on the side of the Hamlet as Town held the upper hand but the goal had Dame Fortune fingerprints all over it, Peter Cooper’s speculative strike from distance slewing in at the post with Sheikh Ceesay unsighted. She had her revenge though, Eastbourne denied a brace of seemingly legitimate goals for offside offences either side of Junior Baker’s equaliser, the substitute on hand to tuck home the ball after Henry Darko’s skidding shot had beaten the ‘keeper only to spring back off the base of the upright to delight the soaked sopranos of the Hamlet Travelling Choir.
Dulwich intend to strike an end to their mediocre league form of late, 1 win in their last 4 nothing to proclaim from the rooftops with Edwards looking to build on that win in midweek and stymie talk of the Manger of the Month curse! That should be assisted by the return to goal scoring form, and in spectacular style too, of leading scorer Laurent Hamici netting his 18th goal of the season on Tuesday evening.
All the better for Edwards will have to call on every resource for today’s game, with suspension and injury taking its toll. Stanley Muguo and Daryl Plummer will both be suspended for today’s game, while Billy Chattaway is unavailable. Potential back up left back Kyle Graham is also likely to be out, injury meaning he was unavailable for the Camberley match, meaning Scott Simpson will be likely to cover this position, where he put in an surefooted if unheralded performance against Camberley. Injury prone right back Peter Martin could also be a doubt, injury keeping him out on Tuesday, Ryan Adams making his full debut in that slot that night. The injury list is certainly growing with Graham and Martin joining long-term absentees Walid Matata, Mo Coly and Charlie Taylor on the sidelines. Tirrell Grant is likely to be included in the squad, Adams might take the right back spot, but may face competition from Mangodza, should Cedric Ngakam drop back to centre half. Theo Fairweather-Johnson could re-take his position on the left wing.
Like Edwards his opposite number at the Saffrons, Ady Colwell, has a number of selection headaches primarily in the vanguard, where he lost striker Danny Leach in midweek after a disagreement. The former Albion trainee, joined Town from Eastbourne Borough in the summer, has scored seven goals for the Ryman Division One South side this season. Colwell will also be without striker Jamie Salvidge for Dulwich Hamlet’s visit as he has a knee ligament injury that could sideline him for a month. Defender Luke Denton is also on the injured list after needing 12 stitches in a head wound picked up in the 1-0 win over Chipstead earlier this month while centre half Lloyd Anthony is out as he is serving a 35-day ban after being sent off in a university match. Town’s squad is further stretched by the loss of Peter Featherstone with a thigh strain but Colwell welcomes back Matt Aldred. Speaking to the local Argus, Colwell said: “Matt is back from Loughborough University and he did really well for us last season over the Christmas period.
“He’s strong and fit as a fiddle. He can play defence or as a defensive midfielder and do a good job.”
The decimation of the forward line by injury and indignation is somewhat tempered by the arrival of striker Ethan Strevett, the young striker quick-footed and dangerous in the box. England Schools trialist James Norwood also boosts Colwell’s options in attack as the frontman is free to play during the holiday period.
Town slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Dulwich in the opening game of the season but Colwell is confident his side are capable of getting something from the return.
He said: “They had a purple patch when we played them but if we can cope with that high-tempo football they play for periods this time I am sure we can take something from the game.”
Today’s game’ kick off is at 3 pm at The Saffrons, Eastbourne.