Havant and Waterlooville sit favourably in the Vanarama National League South following a 3-1 victory over Poole Town at Tatnam.

Two late goals courtesy of Theo Lewis and Wes Fogden see the Hawks three points off top with three games in hand.

Jordan Rose failed a fitness test prior to kick and was replaced by Andreas Robinson whilst January player of the month Matt Tubbs was also ruled out with Alfie Rutherford coming on in his place.

The Hawks had the better of the opening 15 minutes with a flurry of corners but none could amount to anything significant.

The big talking point came 18 minutes in as Alfie Rutherford was brought down with the referee giving a free kick despite most fractions of the crowd thinking he pointed to the spot. The Poole goalkeeper Nick Hutchins was then sent off by referee Ian Fissenden and then a stoppage took place before the reserve keeper Tom Rees came on the field of play.

And Rees’ first job was to pick the ball out the back of the net as from the requisite free kick, Williams on the edge of the area floated the ball underneath the Poole Town wall in De Bruyne fashion and into the bottom right hand corner to give the Hawks the lead.

Half an hour in and Lewis nearly doubled the Hawks’ advantage as Prior headed the ball into his direction twisting and turning before putting the ball half an inch past the far post.

But four minutes before the interval Poole Town won a penalty when Andreas Robinson was deemed to have pushed Warren Bentley in the penalty area.

Bentley stepped up and he slots it into the bottom right hand corner sending Ryan Young the wrong way in the process to level the scores at the interval.

HALF-TIME: Poole Town 1-1 Havant & Waterlooville

The Hawks would have superiority over their Bournemouth based opponents at the start of the second period with a string of chances. The first fell to Wes Fogden when Rory Williams played the ball into him but his header could only go a couple of yards wide.

Then seconds later the Hawks had an effort cleared off the line following a pinpoint header from Jason Prior.

The game boiled over temporarily ten minutes into the second period as Will Spetch fouled Harris before Spetch pushed Harris to the floor before being booked by the referee.

And from that free kick Rory Williams h.ad his effort saved superbly by Tom Rees who got down low to see it out for a corner.

Another hawks free kick 25 minutes from time saw Stock’s effort cleared off the line before falling for Williams who fired over.

The introduction of James Hayter saw the Hawks given that extra attacking dimension.

And 8 minutes from time it was Hayter that teed up Fogden who 1 on 1 with the Poole keeper could only put his effort wide.

But the Hawks did get that breakthrough 5 minutes from time as good build up play saw Williams feed the ball into the path of Theo Lewis who from 12 yards Cooley slotted home.

Seconds later the Hawks nearly made it 3 as the keeper thumbles the ball into the path of Fogden who then teed up Hayter but could only put it past the post.

But the Hawks wouldn’t be denied a third for long as Tarbuck’s cross teed up Wes Fogden who tapped the ball home to secure all 3 points.

FULL TIME: Poole Town 1-3 Havant and Waterlooville

And those three points sets the Hawks up nicely with 15 games left. Midweek spells a break from the league for the Hawks as they head to Cams Alders on Tuesday Night as they face Fareham Town in the semi-finals of the Portsmouth Senior Cup.

Henry Deacon

Two-time World Champ in hot water with sports governing body.

Darts ace Adrian “Jackpot” Lewis has been handed a suspension by the Professional Darts Corporation after pushing opponent Jose Justicia during a UK Open Qualifying event on Friday.

The foul tempered match took place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan behind closed doors but the game being streamed on the internet via the PDC website.

With Lewis trailing 4-3 Justicia hit a 177 shot to leave Double 12 when the initial war of words began. At the next visit to the oche going for the double he missed on the inside wire, chuckling to himself which clearing upset the Two-times former World Champion and after missing Double 6 went up to his opponent and said “Don’t try and p**s me off I’m telling you” before the chalker had to step in and separate both players.

Lewis then hit double top to level the game at 4-4 before pointing to his opponent as he retrieved his dart repeating the phrase he said moments earlier. Jackpot then went back and shouted in his face whilst Justicia laughed. Following this on stage melee the marker told both players “to sort it out”.

The game went down to a deciding leg with the scores level at 5-5. Adrian Lewis would go on to win the leg and match with a Double 7 at the end of a 84 checkout before Lewis again has words with his opponent and Security stepping in to separate both players afterwards leading the Potter, who missed out on the Premier League this year for the first time in 2007 away from the oche and the cameras.

After the match concluded the PDC initially tweeted that the incident had “been referred to the Darts Regulation Authority for immediate consideration.” A matter of hours after the initial tweet the Professional Darts Corporation on their website released a statement from the DRA which read; ”

Following a review of the incidents which occurred in his match with Jose Justicia at Friday’s UK Open qualifier, the Darts Regulation Authority has suspended Adrian Lewis with immediate effect pending a full investigation in to the matter. The player has the right of appeal.”

This means that Lewis, 33, is now suspended from at least the next 2 UK Open Qualifiers and leaves his chances of qualifying for the main tournament in Minehead in early March in doubt.

 

Danny Noppert has made the decision to head to Q-school in an attempt to join the PDC circuit. In a tweet “Noppie” simply wrote “Play Q-school next week in Germany #PDC.” The 27 year-old Dutchman has made the decision in light of his second round exit at the BDO World Darts Championships where he was defeated 4-1 by Mark McGeeney.

Noppert competed in this years tournament amid personal tragedy. He lost his mother on New Year’s Day, 6 days before competing in his first match in the championships against American qualifier Joe Chaney.

PDC Qualifying School for European players take place in Hildesheim next week with a mirrored version taking place for the rest of the World in Wigan at the same time to win PDC Tour cards.

Henry Deacon

The two bold Adonis’ will contest the second semi final of the PDC World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace. Van Gerwen is chasing a third title to match the likes of John Part and John Lowe whilst Rob Cross would like to emulate Phil Taylor & Dennis Priestley in winning the World Title on his debut.

“Mighty Mike” has got to this stage despite some tense moments after defeating Christian Kist 3-1 and James Wilson 4-0 he was 2 sets to nil up over Gerwyn Price before the Welsh slinger found inspired form to peg back to 2-2 in sets and missing 3 darts at tops to go in front 3-2. Then van Gerwen capitalised taking the game 4-2. Then in his Quarter final V Raymond van Barneveld he came out in the opening couple of set edgy averaging 85 in the latter. But MVG went 3-1 in front before missing darts to extend his set lead to 3. Barney would then come back to him and the game went the distance with Barney missing crucial darts at double which again van Gerwen took advantage of to squeeze through to the last 4.

Rob Cross himself hasn’t had it all his way himself in advancing to the semi-finals. He beat Seigo Asada 3-1 in the opener before a tense 4-3 victory over 13th seed Michael Smith. A 4-2 win over John Henderson swiftly followed before a Quarter final clash against Dimitri van den Bergh which at 4-1 up looked like he won before the Belgian battled back to force a decider which the World Youth Champion missed 3 darts at a double before Cross punished and won his place in the semi finals.

The stats perhaps unsurprisingly have Michael van Gerwen as favourite for this match. His tournament average 3 points higher than that of “Voltage” at 103 compared to Cross’ straight ton. However Cross leads the 180 count 40-32 but with van Gerwen one of the most prolific switchers in the game could be a reason as to why. But the crucial doubles is where the biggest disparity lies with van Gerwen leading by 5 points 48% to 43%.

My Verdict:

I think Rob Cross will give van Gerwen a good game but I think the World Number 1 will have too much for him. His power scoring is better than anyone and if Cross is to have any chance he has to be taking out middle of the range shots like 121/127 which Barney did to him a couple of years back along with an average around the 100.

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Rob Cross

Jamie Lewis and Phil Taylor kick off Semi Final Saturday at Alexandra Palace in the PDC World Darts Championship. The game significant to both for dramatically different reasons as a victory for either man sees them within a game of creating one of Darts’ greatest fairytales.

Jamie Lewis, the 25 year-old Welshman wasn’t meant to be at the World Championship, he only made the tournament as an extra spot at the PDPA Qualifier was filled by Dimitri van den Bergh’s World Youth Championship win. And the chance that Lewis got is one that he has taken to some aplong after winning a preliminary match he defeated compatriot Johnny Clayton 3-0 before victories against second seed Peter Wright 4-1 with an 107 average, James Richardson and then Darren Webster in the Quarter Finals to advance to this stage of the competition.

Phil “The Power” Taylor is playing his final tournament as a professional at this years World Darts Championship and has advanced to the semi finals with relative ease. He defeated Chris Dobey 3-0, Justin Pipe 4-0, Keegan Brown 4-0 before a Quarter Final win over 2 times World Champion Gary Anderson by 5 sets to 3.

Looking at the match itself the stats say Phil Taylor is favourite but will be pushed by “The Fireball”. Taylor has a tournament average of 100.08 in comparison to Lewis’ 99.88 so in that respect no difference what so ever. But what Lewis has in his favour is the power scoring and leads The Power on the 180’s hit in the tournament 39-21. The key to this is the way that the two darts stand up to attention and group together which make the bed that bit bigger and with the Darts standing up makes the 20 bed look smaller to that of the treble.

However Taylor leads the doubling percentages 51.9% in comparison to Lewis’ 46.51%. But Lewis has hit more doubles in this tournament under pressure most notably in the rout of Peter “Snakebite” Wright in comparison to Taylor who has had the more luxurious route to the semi finals. But, one thing Taylor has which Lewis can’t buy is that big stage experience. Tonight will be his 20th World Championship semi-final, winning each of the last 19 a stat which will make Lewis sick to his teeth.

My Verdict:

I predict a tight and tense opening semi-final with both players missing clutch doubles to win big legs and sets. Lewis has every chance of beating Phil if he keeps playing like he can but the semi-finals of a World Championship is a different animal to what he has faced before. I think he puts up a good account however I think Phil’s big game experience will see him through in the final set of the match.

Jamie Lewis 5-6 Phil Taylor

In a tournament which has seen more shocks than any other, four men have dodged the carnage to make their way into the semi finals of the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship. For one of Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Rob Cross and Jamie Lewis January the 1st 2018 will be the sweetest day of their darting career all for different reasons. I dissect what the final four bring to the table and preview both semi finals.

Jamie Lewis:

Jamie Lewis has been the Fairytale story of this years’ PDC World Championship. Having won a 3rd place match in the PDPA Play-off in Milton Keynes to qualify for the Prelim round, he made up for his last-chance saloon spot at Ally Pally by playing some sublime arrows.

The performance which raised the most eyebrows was his second round victory against second seed Peter “Snakebite” Wright defeating the Scot by four sets to one with an 107 average. Lewis averaged 107.27, hit 13 180’s and hit 55% of his checkouts in a darting destruction by the 25 year old Welshman.

He’s followed that performance with two solid victories against James Richardson in Round 3 and then a 5-0 whitewash of the 23rd seed Darren Webster in the Quarter finals to guarantee himself £85,000 and a place in the World’s top 32.

His semi-final match is one to salivate over with a clash against the retiring 16 World Champion Phil Taylor. This previous sentence something “Fireball” would have thought was inconceivable when he failed to qualify automatically for the tournament sending out a tweet to his followers that “he was really disappointed not to qualify for the World Championships for the first time in the PDC” but defiantly saying that “my time will come tho”.

Jamie odds for the tournament has tumbled from 250/1 at the start of the competition to just 20/1 slender odds considering the former. He goes into the clash with Taylor, perhaps unsurprisingly the outsider with odds of 9/2 for a Lewis upset at Ally Pally.

 

Phil Taylor

In most World Championships the story of Jamie Lewis would be the one that grips the tournament, however it plays only the role of subplot as the greatest Darts player of all time Phil “The Power” Taylor says goodbye to professional Darts at the end of the tournament.

The 57-year old potter has won this famous tournament on no less than 16 occasions and it would be one of the greatest moments in sport altogether if he would walk away as World Champion. And with Taylor at the semi final stages he is two wins away from the ultimate sporting fairytale.

Taylor advanced to this stage by defeating a nervous Chris Dobey 3-1, the pantomime villain Justin Pipe 4-0, a dogged Keegan Brown by the same scoreline before beating a not fully fit Gary Anderson by 5 sets to 3 in the Quarter Finals.

Taylor goes into his 20th World Championship semi-final when he faces Lewis tomorrow night with an undefeated record in his previous 19 and with a 102.02 average, 12 180’s and 50% checkout percentage in his Quarter Final win over Anderson shows that despite his impeding retirement he is still a darting force to be reckoned with.

And that Darting force is the reason why he sets of as favourite against young Jamie Lewis with Taylor 2/9 on to win the match. As far as the tournament itself is concerned he is the second favourite at 3/1 with the bookies.

 

Rob Cross

Rob Cross has been the new sensation that has hit the PDC circuit in 2017. Having won through Qualfying School and starting at the bottom of the rankings he has amassed £296,250 in his maiden year propelling him into the World’s top 8 in less than 12 months as a professional.

The 27-year old former electrician’s World championship campaign has seen sparks fly. Defeating Seigo Asada 3-1 in the opener he then faced Michael “Bully Boy” Smith in one of the games of the tournament surviving match darts to progress a 4-3 winner in a classic. The last 16 saw him account for John Henderson before a 5-4 victory over Dimitri van den Bergh which proved more hard work than what “Voltage” would have expected from 4-1 up as the young Belgian battled back to take the game into a deciding set.

Cross faces the World Number 1 Michael van Gerwen in the second of this evening’s semi finals at Alexandra Palace. The two time World Champion “MVG” has been somewhat a nemesis of Cross’ even if van Gerwen doesn’t define him as “a rival”. Cross was defeated by van Gerwen 11-6 in the final of the European Championship in October before a 16-13 defeat in the Grand Slam of Darts Quarter finals which proved to be one of the games of the year.

“Voltage” goes into the game as the underdog with odds of 4/1 being dished over the prospect of a dethroning. For the tournament itself Cross is 11/1 with Ladbrokes to lift the crown on New Year’s Day a remarkable figure considering he was literally a nobody in the Darting World this time last year.

 

Michael van Gerwen

And then finally but by no means least, the World number 1 and defending champion. Van Gerwen has been the dominant figure in Darts for the last three years taking over from the perch that Phil Taylor sat on for years before.

However his route to this stage has not been as routine as he would have liked it to have been. Even in his first round clash against Christian Kist on opening night he had to hold back a “Lipstick” surge before winning 3-1. His second round game against James Wilson was a ruthless destruction winning all 12 legs in a 4-0 win. However, that was as easy as it got for the Dutchman as in the last 16 he has to survive a comeback by Gerwyn Price before getting over the line 4-2.

But what the rest of the field will be looking at is his Quarter final performance against Raymond van Barneveld. “Mighty Mike” would perform to a standard so poor one felt it was beneath him with a second set average of a measly 85. And when he missed darts to go 4-1 in front Barney punished to send the game all the way before van Gerwen sealed the match in a tense tussle where RVB felt he should have won.

This tournament and the Sid Waddell Trophy that comes with it is the Jewell in the crown for van Gerwen stating after his defeat to van Barneveld in 2016 that he would “throw everything else in the bin to win this (the World Championship)”. And he is two games away from winning the tournament for the third time and matching the record of legends John Lowe and John Part.

The bookmaker have put van Gerwen as heavy favourite for his semi-final clash with Cross with the reigning 2 times champion 3/13 on to advance to the final and then 4/7 to convert that into a victory.

 

Conclusion

Four different stories but each one have different reasons why they are in with a shout of winning this tournament with the presentation of the trophy emotional whichever way the arrows of the next two days go. Can the underdog go all the way? Will MVG retain his crown? Will Cross win on debut? OR… Will Phil “The Power” Taylor walk away from the sport he has dominated and changed forever with the most prestigious it has to offer? Well two gripping nights of action await for us to find.

Join me in my next article as I break down both semi-finals one by one as we race towards the conclusion of the 2018 William Hill PDC World Darts Championship.

 

Havant and Waterlooville were knocked out the FA Trophy but with their heads held high despite being beaten 3-1 by a star studded Billericay side. Jason Prior started as a lone striker in front of Fogden, Lewis & Tarbuck. Andreas Robinson maintained his stamp in the side for the big matches.

It would be the Bostik League side took the lead after just three minutes as a defensive mix up saw Jake Robinson through on goal and he would slot home to score his 32nd of the season.

The response by the Hawks told. They would have the lions share of possession in the ten minutes that followed the goal with a couple of half chances for Prior and Lewis which didn’t breach the home defence.

Then 25 minutes in Bradley Tarbuck would have an effort from range but the audacity that Tarbuck showed didn’t reap it’s rewards as the effort flew over.

Half an hour in and the Hawks would be frustrated not to have levelled proceedings as a poor back pass by the hosts found Fogden who looked to have rounded Julian in the Billericay goal and when it looked like the net was about to bulge the home keeper found a miraculous touch to send it for a corner.

Towards the end of the first period madness ensued as Matthew Paine came in high and late on Mike Carter with the Billericay man getting sent off before a mele in the middle of the park saw Jordan Rose sent off for an aggressive shove.

And with the last kick of the opening period Jason Prior who following a good through ball by Bradley Tarbuck was denied by Julian in the Billericay goal.

HALF TIME: Billericay 1-0 Havant & Waterlooville

Early in the second half in the same vain as the first period Billericay & Jake Robinson scored. After getting a long ball he then laced the ball past Young in the Hawks goal to double the Ricay lead.

But this seemed to galvanise the Hawks as they forced Tamplin’s ten men back into their own half and into their own penalty area for the majority of that half. Williams had the first of many Hawks chances in the second half but his effort would be matched by Julian in the home goal.

Then again Fogden would try his luck in the penalty area but for the third time he would be denied on the line by a Billericay defence that were standing resolute to constant pressure in which the Hawks were putting in front of them.

On the hour mark Matt Tubbs was introduced into the game and would prove just the tonic the Hawks were hoping for. After just 5 minutes of coming on he would give the Hawks a much needed lifeline as a Williams cross from the right found Tubbs who’s powerful header found the bottom corner at the near post to give the Hawks hope with 25 minutes left in the tie.

And the game dramatically see-sawed into the Hawks favour with the hosts lucky to string together a succession of passes in their own half for the next 15 minutes.

With a quarter of an hour left the Hawks though they had got their leveller but Tubbs’ effort was parried low by Julian only as far as Tarbuck who’s effort from the rebound was cleared off the line by Inman.

And again it would be the lethal left foot of Rory Williams that would cause Billericay damage as he crossed ball in again towards the path of James Hayter who couldn’t quite get the shot away as Julian forced the veteran to put the ball out for a goal kick.

The board for stoppage time read four minutes giving the Hawks some sort of hope. They went for it but after losing possession on the edge of the Billericay penalty area with Sam Deering going from one end of the field to the other before slotting past Ryan Young and killing the tie off and shattering Hawks’ hearts in the process.

FULL TIME: Billericay 3-1 Hawks

Not to be for the Hawks who put up an incredible display and showed their fighting qualities against a star studded Billericay side. With a Portsmouth Cup tie against Paulsgrove Tuesday it will serve as a chance to brush it out of their systems ahead of the busy Christmas league schedule.

Henry Deacon

Hawks V Chippenham match report 

Havant and Waterlooville have put to bed their recent home hoodoo after defeating Chippenham Town 4-0 on a chilly afternoon at Westleigh Park. The game started with the presentation for November’s player of the month with Mike Carter winning the acolade. 
5 minutes in and the Hawks took the lead as a free kick is played into the penalty area and onto the head of Ryan Woodford who rose highest and once he made a connection to the ball there was no stopping it as it nestled into down the centre. The perfect start for the Hawks.
Minutes later and the Hawks came close to a second as good link up play saw the ball placed into the path of Bradley Tarbuck who’s effort went just over the crossbar keeping the score at one.
However the Hawks was not to be denied a second for long as Fogden on the rebound fired home a delicious volley planting his laces straight through it. A rocket which Jason Matthews in the Chippenham goal could just watch in admiration as pandemonium reigned at Westleigh Park. 
But Chippenham did have their chances in the first half as first a free kick was saved well by Young at the far post. Then after half an hour Dean Evans had a go from the best part of 35 yards with the hawks keeper tipping over. Then minutes after that opportunity Ferguson played the ball into the path of Dan Bowman who’s effort would stray just over much to the Hawks’ relief. 
And with a matter of seconds left until the half time interval Jason Prior had an go at goal but his effort would not threaten Matthews who matched the shot. 
 
HALF-TIME: Havant and Waterlooville 2-0 Chippenham Town 
 
The second half didn’t start with much substance as the sun set and the christmas lights from the houses surrounding Westleigh Park illuminated. 
The first opportunity of note in the second hald fell to the visitors as Josh Smile’s shot from the edge of the penalty area forced a good save out of Ryan Young in the Hawks goal. 
Then 4 minutes later Wes Fogden made it three nil to the Hawks as Tubbs plays the ball forward towards the path of Jason Prior who’s effort is parried by Matthews only as far as Fogden who slotted the ball home to seal his brace and seal the match in the Hawks’ favour too. 
Three minutes later Jason Prior would have another chance but on a frustraiting afternoon as he turns and shoots from the edge of the area but his effort goes wide of the mark. 
Minute after that the Hawks made a double substitution as Theo Lewis & Matt Tubbs came off with Theo Widdrington & George Barker came on to see out the last 20 minutes. 
Chippenham Town had their final opportunity of the game with just over ten minutes left as a flicked on header from a corner forced Ryan Young into a save to preserve his clean sheet. 
With 8 minutes left the Hawks made it four as a mistake from the away team saw Prior pick up the ball and picks out Theo Widdrington who from the best part of 35 yards beats the oncoming man and unleashes a thunderbolt into the top corner to que a frenzy once more amongst Hawks fans as the goal of the season competition crancked up a notch. 
 
FULL-TIME: Havant and Waterlooville 4-0 Chippenham Town
 
The Hawks now go into their massive tie away to Billericay having banished their scars at home with a fine performance and 3 points to boot. Now all attentions lie on the Essex side who under Glenn Tamplin has gained all the headlines but can the Hawks write their own fairytale story. We will wait with baited breath until next week to find out.
Henry Deacon 

Jason Prior scored a hat trick of penalties for the Hawks as they defeated Braintree Town 3-1 at Cressent Road in the Vanarama National League South. The Hawks went into the game looking to reverse a barren league run which seen them without a league victory since beating Gloucester City on September 9th.  

In a first half of limited opportunities the Hawks would have the first one of those ten minutes in as Tarbuck’s right hand side cross is put into Jason Prior who tried a first time volley which went wide of goal. On 16 minutes Theo Lewis carved an opportunity out of nothing as he wins the ball before crossing the ball in but was cleared by the home defence denying Jason Prior an effort on goal. Moments later a ball crossed in by Rory Williams with the Braintree defender deflecting the ball back to Nathan McDonald in the Braintree goal who only saw the ball at the last minute stopping a potential own goal. All that within the opening 20 minutes. 

Prior to the half hour mark Jordan Rose’s back post header from a corner is directed wide of the goal. But it would take until 35 minutes before Braintree has their opening chance of note as after 34 minutes a free kick into the penalty area is headed wide by Obamwonyi. Seconds later the Hawks looked again to take the lead as roles reversed as Prior teed up Lewis at the far post who hit the side netting with his effort. And just before half time Williams effort from the right hand side fizzles over into the housing estate behind the goal.  

HALF TIME: Braintree Town 0-0 Hawks

Within three minutes of resumption Wes Fogden is brought down in the penalty are with referee Lloyd Wood pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Jason Prior who slotted it into the bottom left to give the Hawks the lead and break the record of scoring in 7 consecutive Hawks matches. Minutes after the Hawks almost doubled their lead as Lewis heads a ball from a free kick across the frame of goal with Woodford then heading the ball over.  

But on 53 minutes the Hawks had penalty number 2 of the second half as this time Jason Prior brought to ground in the penalty area. Up stepped Prior again to slot home the penalty into the bottom left again in what was almost a replica of his first penalty 5 minutes earlier. But the second penalty success for prior seemed to have stoked Braintree up as they started to control the game for a short spell. Their first attack in that purple patch fell to Crook who’s header could only find the gloves of Ryan Young. 

But within a minute of that Braintree would reduce the arrears to one as Braintree break finding Barrington who slots home from just outside the penalty area.  

With a quarter of an hour remaining Theo Widdrington came on for the Hawks with him trying to make an impact on the game straight away as he tries a shot from distance but went well wide of the mark.  

With just over 10 left in the game the Hawks would wind staggering third penalty of the afternoon as Wes Fogden is fouled again in the penalty area and guess who stepped up? Yes, that man Jason Prior who this time went straight down the middle to score a hattrick of penalties an unprecedented feet for any Hawk and most footballer altogether.  

With the Hawks leading once more by two, they would ensure that Braintree would not have a sniff for the final ten minutes with some passing play and keeping the ball in the corners to ensure that they left the high flying Essex side with all 3 points in the bag, which they ultimately did. 

FULL TIME: Braintree Town 1-3 Hawks

The Hawks’ dominance on the road continued with the Iron paying the price. Next up for Lee Bradbury’s men is the trip to Hungerford Town next Saturday with the game being their 7th away game in 7 weeks in all competitions.  

Henry Deacon 

Hawks in the Community have won a £20,000 grant by The National League Trust. Brian Lee MBE, chairman of The National League Trust and president of The National League itself was in attendance and gave the cheque to the Hawks’ Walking Football team lead by Shaun Gale prior to kick off yesterday against Poole Town.

Hawks in the Community run a series of projects in conjunction with the football club with one of them the very successful ‘Many shades of Grey’ Walking Football side lead by Shaun Gale, club assistant manager and Community manager at the Hawks. Many Shades has been running for just over three years with anyone over the age of 50 welcome to get involved on a Thursday morning at the South Downs complex of Havant & South Downs College

On top of that Hawks in the Community also run half term courses with one taking place over this half term week with the team there providing fun and insightful sessions for the next crop of Hawks fans or maybe even players!

Henry Deacon