K's Behind The Curve In South London Derby

Here are some statistics. K’s have played 12 home games this season and fallen behind in 10 of them. That includes eight consecutive home games where the opposition have scored first. We’ve won four at home all campaign. This is, by any metric, not good.

So when Dulwich Hamlet’s Nyren Clunis waltzed through the ever-gaping K’s defence to open the scoring in just the 5thminute, the Kingsmeadow reaction was one of unsurprised frustration.

While Hamlet’s healthy away support repeated their one-song dirge, K’s focused on working their way up the pitch in a first-half display long on possession but very short on chances.

Striker Ryan Moss, top-scorer in the Ryman this season with Kingstonian but a conspicuous failure at Dulwich in 2015/16, looked like a man wanting to prove a point. But for all his forceful running, he was woefully isolated in a 4-4-1-1, particularly with No9 Aaron Lamont failing to make an impact.

The best home moments came from right-winger Youssef Bamba who’s haring-down-the-flanks-and-whipping-an-early-cross schtick remains a potent, if inconsistent, tactic.

Dulwich, in all honesty, were largely comfortable, Matt Drage in particular bossing the backline and distributing the ball well. He too was a man with something to prove, having left K’s after one contretemps too many with the management. There was a first-half vignette to savour when K’s manager Tommy Williams gestured angrily from the touchline and Drage merely responded with a contemptuous laugh.

In fact, there’s a bit of needle between the two sides these days. While it’s always been a South London derby, it’s never been a rivalry. But as Hamlet have elevated themselves into the status of non-league’s most fashionable club, their fans remain remarkably sensitive to any light-hearted criticism from K’s dwindling band of disgruntled misfits.

It was fitting, therefore, that the game ended in red cards and vituperation, both Sanchez Ming and Sean Bonnett-Johnson being dismissed in injury-time. The Christmas spirit, evident in the stands mainly through Morph suits and Santa costumes, died with the game.

As the year approaches its end, K’s remain resolutely, perennially, inevitably mid-table. But, as ever, events off the pitch feel more important: an imminent decision on where the club will be groundsharing next season will do much to determine how much optimism can linger until a farewell to Kingsmeadow in April.

#Kingstonian #Dulwich