The Hawks face Needham Market in a mouth-watering top of the table Ryman Premier League clash at Westleigh Park between 2nd and 3rd as the race for promotion starts to hot up. In this article I will be looking at the tale of the tape as Bradbury and Molesley prepare their troops for battle.
This game is more about Needham Market than it is the Hawks. They have played two games more than their opponents and lost on Tuesday night against fellow title rivals Bognor Regis Town at Nyewood Lane, so a slip up at Westleigh Park could be fatal.
Needham Market added extra names in the January window, but the Hawks have also been getting active, signing ex Gosport player Mike Carter on Thursday, as well as Ben Swallow going to Margate to get some minutes under his belt.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
RORY WILLIAMS
For the Hawks Rory Williams has been instrumental towards their surge towards promotion at the first attempt due to the sheer consistency of his performances.
Rory who transferred from Gosport in June is the joint most capped player along with ‘keeper Ryan Young and although his presence has sometimes gone unnoticed to the naked eye, it is performances over the past few months which has seen him become one of the most influential players and the first name on the team sheet come 2pm on Saturday.
He is also the centre half who bangs in the goals, vindicated with his 37 goals in 77 apps for Gosport and has started to hit the back of the net again this season with goals against Grays and on Tuesday night against AFC Sudbury.
ALFIE RUTHERFORD
At 18 years of age, Alfie Rutherford is the hottest properties at Westleigh Park and one of the hottest in the Non-league. The footballing maturity and his infectious cheeky chappy personality could see Alfie go high up into the professional game in the future.
Alfie despite being a late bloomer this season has hit the league with aplong with more braces than a dentist this season topped off with a hat-trick against Grays before Christmas. However as a young man and someone who is wanting to impress can see experienced centre-half’s trying to push his buttons, however of recent weeks he’s shrugged that off his back and became the thorn in the Ryman defence’s side.
THE GAME
The game is at Westleigh Park, Havant, so please drop by and support the Hawks, if not Hawks Radio has full commentary with myself and Les Hyson at the mic calling the action from 14:35.
Henry Deacon Media 