We're keeping a certain level of performance every week, says Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose

Wednesday 18th December 2013

DULWICH HAMLET boss Gavin Rose says he’s pleased with his side’s consistency levels going into the crucial Christmas programme.

The Hamlet leapfrogged over Maidstone United in to fourth-place in the Ryman Premier League table following their 2-0 home win over The Stones last night.

Wingers Nyren Clunis and Jerome Walker scored two quality goals to inflict The Stones’ second league defeat in twenty games this season and to keep Hamlet in the promotion race.

“We’re keeping a certain level of performance week-in-week-out regardless of who we’re playing against,” said Rose.

“Our level of performances are generally around the same.

“That wasn’t our best performance – we can play better and have played better but we’ve got an average.

“We’re playing at a consistent average at the moment, which is good enough really so that’s pleasing because you don’t expect nine our of ten or eight out of ten performances really.”

When asked to mark his side’s rating against their fellow promotion rivals last night, Rose replied: “I think maybe a seven in terms of the opposition. You might say eight because Maidstone are a good team.

“We weren’t brilliant, we were good but we weren’t brilliant.”

The Hamlet are now only three points adrift of league leaders AFC Hornchurch and make the long trek to Lowestoft Town on Saturday.

Lowestoft Town have the bridesmaid’s tag because they fail to get promoted via the Ryman Premier League play-off’s every single season.

The Suffolk side go into the game sitting in eighth-place with 33 points from 21 games – nine points adrift Rose’s men.

When asked what he’s expecting on Saturday, Rose replied: “A tough game! The last few years they’ve been play-off’s or near enough contenders to win the league. It’s a similar pool of players for them. They’ll be there or there abouts.

“We know they’ve got experience so we expect a really tough game. It’s away from home and a long journey.”

Dulwich Hamlet welcome Essex side Grays Athletic to Champion Hill on Boxing Day, 26 December (3pm) and Rose wants supporters to replicate the same levels of support as they did against Maidstone United last night.

A crowd of 817 was their second largest of the season at Champion Hill and Rose said: “It’s great to have atmosphere like this. This is what players at this level want. They want to have an atmosphere. It’s a small, tight ground and when you get people cheering – they’re not paid bundles of money – so it’s great for them to play in front of people and enthusiastic crowds like this.”

And when asked what he’s written on his Christmas wish list for the New Year, Rose said: “You don’t want to look too far ahead to be honest. I suppose you want the players to be as consistent as possible. I don’t want to predict what’s going to happen (in 2014) because you never know so you want a clean bill of health and the boys to be consistent.”

Visit Dulwich Hamlet’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet

Lowestoft Town v Dulwich Hamlet
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 21^st December 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Crown Meadow, Love Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2PA