MATCH PREVIEW | DULWICH HAMLET V OXFORD CITY
Oxford City will be hoping to make it three wins in succession when they travel to Champion Hill to face a struggling Dulwich Hamlet side with just two wins from their last 15 matches.
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
However, City will have to get a result without Andre Burley & Josh Parker who both miss the game through international duty.
Dulwich on the other hand have strengthened their ranks with the addition of David Stephens from Boreham Wood.
LAST TIME OUT:
City started December at home to The Hamlet, and went into the affair unbeaten in their previous four games.
It was the Hoops who started the better of both sides at the RAW Charging Stadium, with a number of chances in the contest’s opening stages. City soon capitalised on their positive start in the 28th minute, when Klaidi Lolos’ neat footwork and clinical finish saw Ross Jenkins’ side into a first-half lead.
But City’s good work was undone no less than six minutes later, when both Canice Carroll and Andre Burley failed to clear a lofted pass which eventually found Dulwich striker Danny Mills, who raced clear to coolly finish past Dudzinski.
Back on level terms at the start of the second half, it was then City who found themselves behind in the game after just three minutes, when the Hoops failed to effectively clear a short free-kick, allowing George Porter to nod home unmarked at the front post.
City were not disheartened, however, and rediscovered their cutting edge in the 73rd minute when - after an only partial-clearance by the Dulwich backline - Lewis Coyle floated a cross to the back post, finding the free Tom Harrison, who volleyed the ball into the net.
The Hoops, with 20 minutes to find a winner, saw the game escalate into a scrappy affair with time-wasting and a number of questionable decisions meaning that, ultimately, the team had to settle for a point.
FORM:
DULWICH HAMLET
Form: W L W L L
After a respectable 10th-placed finish last season, Dulwich Hamlet find themselves fighting at the wrong end of National League South this term - Hakan Hayrettin’s side are currently 19th, and just two points clear of safety.
Hamlet kicked off 2023 with a win away to Dover Athletic on New Year’s Day, and won again two weeks later at Welling United, before a run of nine losses in 10 matches led to a change at the helm. The vastly experienced Hakan Hayrettin took charge on March 2nd after the dismissal of Paul Barnes - who had been in the role for only six months.
Since Hayrettin’s arrival, Dulwich have picked up points again - with two wins and three losses under his guidance so far, one of which was an impressive home victory over Havant and Waterlooville.
The London-based side, despite defeat in their recent two matches, have battled well of late, and might count themselves unlucky to have lost - particularly against Bath City (thanks to an 87th minute winner).
Dulwich now return home - where both of their wins under new boss Hayrettin have come - for what is sure to be a game of huge significance at both ends of the table.
OXFORD CITY
Form: D L D W W
Oxford City made it two wins and two clean sheets in a row with a battling 1-0 victory over relegation-fighting Cheshunt last Saturday. City, who have still lost only once in 2023, now enter the season’s crucial seven remaining matches full of confidence.
The Hoops got back to winning ways at home, after two games without one, against Cheshunt - and having scored early through Josh Parker - held on for the following 88 minutes to clinch an all-important victory.
Away from home, City have been mightily impressive of late; the Hoops have not lost on the road since the narrow defeat at Worthing, at the beginning of November. Since then, the team are unbeaten on their travels - a run that manager Ross Jenkins will no doubt be hoping to prolong until the end of the campaign.
ONE TO WATCH: George Porter
With eleven goals and six assists for Dulwich so far this season, 30-year-old striker George Porter will certainly be one for the City backline to keep an eye out for this weekend.
The attacker has a wealth of experience, now at his 14th club, and joined The Hamlet last summer after a season with fellow VNLS side Dartford.
Crucially, Porter has found clinical form this month under new manager Hakan Hayrettin, netting three times in his last four appearances - and Dulwich’s top scorer will definitely be looking to add to his tally once more against City on Saturday.
THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS:
“Last time we went there, it was a really difficult game.
“They stretched us in behind and we’ve learned our lessons from then. We’ve got better and we’ve developed ourselves but again we’ve got to address that it is a physical game.
“I thought we did enough to score a few goals against them at our place, but again, in the National League South, every game is a difficult game.
“I think any team can beat any team on their day. It just depends on if your team turns up, then you’ve got a good shot of winning, but it is purely mentality this back end of the season.”
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