We've got a huge task in facing Bognor on Thursday night, says Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose

DULWICH HAMLET manager Gavin Rose says previous personal play-off heartbreak is spurring him on to ensure the club are promoted into the Vanarama National League South for the first time.

The Hamlet completed their Ryman Premier League campaign in fifth-place, having collected 81 points from their 46 games, winning 23, drawing 12 and losing 11.

They went down to a 2-1 defeat at Needham Market on Saturday, a result that maintained the Suffolk hosts Ryman Premier League status for a second season and relegated Burgess Hill Town, who could only play our an uninspiring goal-less draw at home to fourth-placed Tonbridge Angels.

“Yes definite mixed emotions, obviously we wanted to finish our season off with a win,” said Rose.

“We’re playing against a team that played really well on the day to be honest and they were fighting for their lives but disappointed with our first half performance in particular.

“Second half we probably should have at least equalised and won the game but at the end of the day credit to Needham.”

Sixth-placed Enfield Town missed out for the second successive season because they could only hold Hampton & Richmond Borough to a goal-less draw, which clinched the league title for Alan Dowson’s Beavers, winning it by just a point.

Rose said: “No, I don’t keep my phone by me but the supporters basically confirmed it during the game because our game overran so they confirmed that Hampton had drawn so we knew then.”

Dulwich Hamlet will travel to league runners-up Bognor Regis Town in the Ryman Premier League play-off Semi-Finals on Thursday and if they progress through to Monday’s Final will be away from home to either East Thurrock United or Tonbridge Angels.

Dulwich Hamlet completed the league double over Bognor Regis Town in the league, winning 3-2 at Nyewood Lane on 21 November and winning 2-0 at Champion Hill on 2 April – but history counts for nothing in the play-off lottery.

“Yes, always on the night,” agreed Rose.

“Yes, we seem to bump heads quite a lot with Bognor, a great, great set of people over there, management team etc and over the years’ we’ve been in play-offs with them, play-off semi-finals and play-off finals. 

“It’s been quite a regular thing between the two clubs so we’re quite familiar with each other.

“It does go down to what happens on the night so if I’m honest with you it will be a good football match.

“Both teams try to play football the right way but also tentative I suppose because of what rides on it.

“They’ve done very well this year and we’re very unfortunate not to actually finish the league as champions but obviously they need to get their minds back in gear for this game as well as we do.

“As much as it will be down to talent it will also be down to mentality as well, what teams copes with it best.”

Dulwich Hamlet suffered a 2-1 defeat at big-spending Margate in last season’s Ryman Premier League play-off Semi-Final and Rose saw his side lose to Bognor Regis 1-0 in the 2012 Play-Off Final after beating Neil Cugley’s Folkestone Invicta 2-1, courtesy of two goals from Ray Powell, who had played a large chunk of the season for Kent League side Erith Town under Tony Russell.

“Since I’ve been manager now this is our fourth year of play-offs. We’ve not been successful so the fact that we’ve not been successful over the three spurs me on personally,” said Rose.

“Our goal was to try to get the club promoted this year and we’ve got an opportunity to do that.

“Well I’ve been there for seven years. When I first got to the club we were meandering around the bottom half or the middle of the Ryman South and now we’re challenging every year to get the club promoted each year in the Ryman Premier so the club are fully aware of the job that I’ve done and they understand that.

“It’s progression whatever way you look at it, it’s always progression.”

“Now were established the club we want to be in the National South at a minimum so no pressure from the club whatsoever. The only pressure put on me is from myself, it always has been the same. I always put pressure on myself. The club are quite supportive of what we’re doing as a management team and playing staff.”

Beat Bognor Regis Town on Thursday, then Dulwich Hamlet will play Monday’s Final against East Thurrock United or Tonbridge Angels because they finished in the bottom play-off berth.

Rose though is only focusing on beating a very good Bognor Regis Town side.

“That’s right, that’s right. We’ll take it one step at a time. We’ve got a huge task in facing Bognor on Thursday night and if we are victorious then we start to think about another opponent after that but right now the first thought is the Thursday night game.”

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

Bognor Regis Town  v  Dulwich Hamlet
Ryman Premier League Play-Off Semi-Final
Thursday 28^th April 2016
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 2TY