HAWKS 3-2 Eastbourne Borough; Match report
It was the game that had everything. Goals, red cards, a nailed on result and nerves at the bitter death. But the Hawks more importantly than anything else left their perch with all 3 points safely tucked away.
Lee Bradbury would opt for an unchanged line-up from that which drew a blank with Chippenham on Saturday. Up against the Hawks gaffer was a former rival in Jamie Howell, once of Bognor, now plying his trade at Eastbourne. A rivalry built of respect by both men. And this chapter would be just as thrilling as the one previous.
The Hawks came out the traps like a Greyhound and would be rewarded by opening the scoring within 120 seconds. The Hawks with chance after chance in the penalty area following good link up play but Eastbourne thought they eluded danger when the ball was outside the box. That was until they saw Theo Widdrington set up to the mark and the king of the long-range effort from 25 yards out unleashed a thunderbolt right into the top left hand corner.
With the early advantage belonging to the Hawks they would be determined to do what Eastbourne on Saturday could not and that was to keep hold of it and the Hawks were showing all the signs of not just keeping hold of it but to double it as the ball from Rory Williams is played into Theo Lewis but if it was not for ex Hawk Ian Simpemba it probably would have been 2-0 to the Hawks.
But the Hawks would only have to wait another 11 minutes longer to see that lead doubled as the Hawks win a free kick in an opportune position and most crucially from striking distance. Theo Widdrington and Rory Williams were both lining the set piece up but it would the latter that would take. The referee blew his whistle, Williams stepped up and then he unleashed a beautiful curling effort into the top right hand corner and doubling the Hawks’ advantage midway through the opening period.
With the lead being two the Hawks seemed comfortable with Lee Bradbury’s side playing at the top of their game and they were wanting to exercise their prowess even further onto the Sports as 6 minutes from half time a Hawks corner is put into the penalty area where the ball was pinballed across the area but Theo Widdrington who already made his mark on the scoresheet went for a second but his effort was tipped over the bar by Bailey Vose.
HALF-TIME: HAWKS 2-0 EASTBOURNE BOROUGH
The second period would get underway amid a boisterous atmosphere at Westleigh Park with both sets of supporters making their allegiances known.
The first opportunity of the second half would fall Eastbourne’s way as Ian Simpemba’s free kick hit the crossbar and would be as far the closest that Howell’s side came to an opener.
4 minutes later the Hawks would make it three. Mike Carter plays a perfectly timed through ball to Jason Prior, who, onside rounds evades the defensive traps beats the goalkeeper and then slots the ball home beautifully to see the Hawks go 3-0 to the good. Game, set and match right? Not in this encounter, the drama has not got started yet.
With the clock striking the hour, the Hawks’ young whipper snapper striker Alfie Rutherford who on the attack is taken down by Simpemba, appeals ring round the ground for a red card as the Hawks faithful sighted him as the last man, however the referee Lee Brennen decided to dish out a yellow as his preferred course of action.
Eastbourne would be inflicted more misery a matter of minutes later as they were reduced to 10 men as after a second yellow card Gavin McCallum was given his marching orders by the man in black and once more the fans in Westleigh Park were thinking the result was nailed on.
But, no, Eastbourne and Jamie Howell would have a never say die attitude as after 88 minutes the ball is play out to substitute Ryan Worrall who would slot the ball past Ryan Young in the Hawks goal to reduce the arrears to two.
Minutes later Eastbourne seriously put the cat amongst the pigeons as in the first minute of time added on Will Hendon, formerly of Worthing from all of 25 yards out put the ball into the top right and the last few minutes would make the nerves start to jangle slightly.
FULL-TIME: HAWKS 3-2 EASTBOURNE BOROUGH
That win would be the 200th the Hawks would register in their National League South history. Post match when I spoke to Lee Bradbury I asked him about the game and said that it was the game that had everything. He reply “yeah, it did, I think for 90 minutes that’s the best we’ve played for a long time and that includes the end of last season, I think we moved the ball very well, caused them a lot of problems, fitness levels were great, scored some fantastic goals and then we switched off the last couple of minutes but to be honest that’s bitter sweet, having played so well for 90 minutes and then conceding two late goals but having said that if we came off with anything other than three points it would have been a travesty being honest.”
Next up for the Hawks is the visit of the bookmakers joint favourites to lift the title in Dartford and they will visit Fort Westleigh having drawn both of their opening two fixtures. With Pompey away we are hoping for a big crowd to come and cheer Bradbury’s boys across the winning line.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 