The Hawks edge closer towards the summit of the Ryman Premier League following an impressive 4-1 victory at the Queen Elizebeth II stadium on International Women’s day. As a gesture, the club let all female supporters in for free. The Hawks gave a debut to new signing Jordan Rose as well as a start for Wes Fogden. Mike Carter was dropped to the bench.
The Hawks started the game with some aplong as after 4 minutes when Alfie Rutherford gains the ball from Jason Prior beating two players before sprinting to the penalty area where against Nathan McDonald in the Enfield goal went round him before Cooley slotting it into the back of the net, the start that the Hawks craved.
The game was barely ten minutes old when a corner whipped into the penalty area found Alfie Rutherford, but with two Enfield players in front of him he turned and found Theo Lewis on the edge of the ‘D’ where he took a first time shot which went just wide on the frame of goal. Alfie Rutherford, the influential 18 year old who was praised immensely amongst the Enfield supporters was before a quarter hour was being played broke down the wing and with just the ‘keeper to beat he tried to lob him but his effort went just wide.
Following a first 20 minutes of Hawks domination Enfield got back into the match and played the kind of Football that see them 7th in the league. This was first shown when the Hawks defence were in 6’s and 7’s as series of shots were being put in the penalty area and as the ball was being pin balled Billy Crook then lead Ryan Young in making the first meaningful save of the game. Then a matter of moments later Parcell 25 yards from goal took a volley which forced Ryan Young into an impressive save.
Their hard work was rewarded when after the half hour mark Harry Ottaway went to ground following a Jordan Rose tackle and referee Wayne Cartmel pointed to the spot. Billy Crook stood up and slotted it as cool as a cucumber into the bottom left hand corner. A level game in what was a pulsating opening salvo of play.
Further enhancing their impressive period of play when Rory Williams lost possession to Muleba as he cuts inside, then shooting with a save from Young causing a corner. From that requisit corner, the ball goes to Ottaway who turns then takes a curling effort which is saved by Ryan Young. That the last key action in a pulsating half of football.
HALF TIME: ENFIELD TOWN (Ottaway ’31) 1-1 HAWKS (Rutherford ‘4)
Ahead of the start of the second half Lee Bradbury was forced to show his hand as Alfie Rutherford was replaced by Matt Paterson due to a “hamstring injury” as the 18 year old told us. But Matt Paterson would be a pivotal piece of the Hawks puzzle in the second half.
Early on in the second period the Hawks came out all firing as Wes Fogden took an early stab at goal but his effort was matched by that of McDonald in the Enfield goal. Then a matter of moments later the Hawks would go back in front for the second time as Matt Paterson picks up a loose ball which he crosses into the penalty where he finds his fellow strike partner Jason Prior who places it nicely into the onion bag and with that the Hawks back in front.
Then a matter of minutes later two became three as Jason Prior pick out Matt Paterson who them turned and found Wes Fogden who shoots and makes it 3-1 and with a finish which showed his former Football League class. From this point in the game started to lull, creating an atmosphere which felt like an acception of the games result.
With the game settling down Enfield Town elected to bring manager Brad Quinton on for the last 20 minutes of proceedings. A matter of minutes after that Percy Kiangbeni took a shot in the penalty area up against two hawks defenders but his effort hit the post. But the Hawks would grab a fourth and fatal goal as Matt Paterson is 1 on 1 down the left hand side when he cuts the ball inside and then puts past the keeper and the Hawks go 4-1 up.
The Hawks fans behind the goal in full voice enjoyed that and enjoyed the last 10 minutes of the encounter as the fourth goal was a condemnation of the result and the game was played in a friendly manner, with the Hawks’ incredible run continuing.
FULL TIME: ENFIELD TOWN 1-4 HAWKS
So the Hawks continued their assault towards the Ryman Premier League title, as well as a win, it helped boost their goal difference to the best in the division in what was a hegemonic performance, with the former being the Hawks fans word of the day. Those were also the words of the gaffer post match.
The manager said “I was really pleased with the second half, at 1-1 it could go either way but we spoke at half time, addressed a few things and the lads took it on board and they should take the credit for that. It’s hard work the way I wanted them to play today with high energy with us pressing high up the pitch and stopping them from playing and allowing us to win back the ball in the middle of our half on what was a difficult pitch. We did that and they carried out their instructions amazingly and that saw us score two goals very quickly and that was the turning point really. We knew it was going to be a tough game today, they have a good record and it was nice to get a win at a vital time.
The Hawks now have a weeks rest before facing AFC Sudbury at Westleigh Park as the games get bigger by the week.
Henry Deacon
Attendance: 519
Goalscorers:
Enfield town- Ottaway 31
HAWKS: Rutherford 4; Prior 49; Fogden 52; Paterson 80
Henry Deacon Media 