Preview - Dulwich Hamlet (A) - 6th August
Wealdstone have their first away game of the season on Tuesday evening as the Stones travel to Champion Hill for a tough test against Dulwich Hamlet.
Dean Brennan will be looking to gain momentum from Saturday’s 4-1 win against Dartford with another strong performance against the Hamlet.
Many have predicted Gavin Rose’s Hamlet to finish in-and-around the play-off places, so this will once again be a test for the Stones so early in the season.
Ross Lafayette started his second spell at The Vale in style and is the man in-form for Wealdstone. Lafayette had a strong pre-season and scored two goals in the season opener on Saturday.
Champion Hill will be hosting it’s first game of the season and Dulwich Hamlet look a strong outfit this season, former Stone Jeffrey Monakana had a good pre-season and is the Hamlet’s in-form player.
Christian Smith is another former Wealdstone player that will play against his old club on Tuesday, both Smith and Monakana were part of the Stones team last season that reached the play-offs.
Wealdstone have not lost a league game at Champion Hill since 2001 but have not played at the famous non-league ground since 2013.
Dulwich Hamlet were able to keep hold of their dangerous striker Dipo Akinyemi for this season, who scored 16 goals in all competitions last season including a penalty at The Vale in April.
Brennan on the Hamlet post-match on Saturday: “They [Dulwich Hamlet] play a real attack-minded style and a real technical style.”
It will be a different type of challenge against Dulwich Hamlet in comparison to Dartford, which was agreed by Brennan: “It’s a totally different contrast to today’s [Saturday] game [against Dartford].”
Dulwich Hamlet like to play on-the-ball and attack at teams, which is what Wealdstone fans saw towards the end of last season.
Although some of the personnel has changed at Champion Hill, Gavin Rose’s philosophy and style of play will remain the same for this fixture.
The Hamlet will likely be without impressive defender Quade Taylor following his red card at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.
Kavan Cotter and Ryan Sellers will be doubtful to feature for the Stones, while Jonathan North and Dejon Noel-Williams are more likely to remain out.
Wealdstone already have had one convincing performance - can the Stones swiftly follow that up with another on Tuesday?
Preview by Dec O'Reilly
Full match details HERE