Dulwich Hamlet boss Rose looking for calm heads ahead of top of the table clash (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Maidstone have a good following, but so do Dulwich Hamlet, says Rose

1:25pm Friday 18th January 2013 in Football

By Tom Ambrose

Gavin Rose hopes his Dulwich Hamlet side can cope with the added pressure of a big crowd in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Maidstone United.

A 2-0 win at Folkestone Invicta shot Hamlet to the summit of the Ryman League Division One South but Maidstone United won in mid-week to re-claim the top spot.

But manager Rose says his men will not be affected by the occasion or the expected large crowd at Champion Hill.

He said: “At the end of the day, Maidstone United are a big club with a huge fan base in this league.

“Sure, they will be more used to playing in front of large crowds but we have been getting decent gates this season too.

“These are the sort of games you want to be involved in as a footballer.”

Hamlet overcame Wealdstone in the Isthmian League Cup in the week and Rose says he would not blame his players for feeling a bit jaded.

He said: “The boys are only human – it’s a difficult job balancing the number of games, especially at this time of year.

“This match will not decide who gets promoted at the end of the season, there is still a long way to go yet.”

Hamlet will be without Luke Hickey for Saturday’s mouth-watering fixture as the defender serves the last game of his three-match ban.