DULWICH HAMLET’S 4-3 FA Cup defeat to Eastbourne Borough last weekend means they have just one home game in October – a friendly against Premier League Crystal Palace.
Hamlet were due to play Weston at Imperial Fields, but that fixture has been postponed as their National League South rivals reached the fourth qualifying round by knocking out eighth-tier Coggeshall Town.
Eagles boss Roy Hodgson will manage a Palace XI side, with all proceeds from the fixture going into Hamlet’s coffers.
On their official site, Palace were advising their fans to purchase tickets quickly as they expected them to sell out.
Hamlet added: “A cruel FA cup twist of fate has now made this our only home game in October. It’s absolutely vital for the health of the club that we pack out Imperial Fields on Thursday as Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace come to visit.”
The match kicks off at 7.00pm on Thursday (October 11).
Last Saturday, Hamlet fell just short of completing an extraordinary cup comeback with ten men.
Gavin Rose’s side were 3-0 down at Eastbourne by the 28th minute after goals from Alfie Rutherford, Ryan Hall and a Dean Cox penalty.
An unlikely comeback at that point became even less likely when Iffy Allen was sent off ten minutes later and the hosts added a fourth through Hall three minutes before half-time.
There was little hint of a comeback until eleven minutes from time when Dipo Akinyemi scored from Dominic Vose’s corner to make it 4-1.
With seven minutes left Nyren Clunis pulled another goal back and incredibly it was 4-3 with five minutes left as Kingsley Eshum, a player signed on work experience from QPR, finished.
Hamlet sent defenders Magnus Okuonghae and Michael Chambers forward for the last few minutes, and Okuonghae did have one half-chance, but shot over as the visitors just failed to complete a remarkable turnaround.
The defeat meant Hamlet missed out on collecting £15,000 prize money.
Dulwich travel to Hungerford Town this Saturday in National League South. Kick-off is 3pm.
Image: @photodunc