ISACC GLEAVE REPORT | AVELEY 4 WHITEHAWK 2

With the clock reading 40 at the end of the opening half beneath thick, grey Aveley skies, Liam Nash funnelled the ball beautifully into the top-left corner for his hat-trick. 

There would have been plenty to unpick for Whitehawk manager Shaun Saunders at the break, his side 3-1 down. You could argue this was a game won by Nash and Nash alone. And yes, you’d be right, to an extent. There probably haven’t been many better home debuts in football – yet there was more to this performance than a lone player.

Aveley’s home of Parkside is a polished clump of navy and grey, made duller by the thick clouds that hung overhead throughout. But on the artificial surface they were slick and vibrant, full of energy and intent.

Let’s not forget, this is not quite Whitehawk’s strongest side. Injuries and suspensions have depleted an already thin squad, and while at times they played with a purpose and a prominence, they were probably deserving of defeat of here.

Aveley started this one like a side who hadn’t lost at home in the league since September 15th. An imperious streak that looked to grow with Nash making his return to the club – a forward far superior for this level, and within 18 minutes he had placed it beyond Whitehawk’s reach.

It was from a Hawks set piece that provided the catalyst for a calamitous opening period, the hosts breaking at speed to slip Nash through, who finished so coolly he could have worn a blindfold. 

Then it was 2-0, and that was pretty much that. In possession of the ball Whitehawk were effective; there were patterns, was a rhythm. But Aveley were a side sharper, quicker. They burst into good areas and continued to bombard the Hawks’ box with quality deliveries. Nash could hardly miss from a matter of yards out from one of these.

Harry Lodovica perhaps should have found the target from close range with the Hawks a goal down, swiftly punished by a man who is unflappable in front of goal. The advantage could have increased as Toby Aromolaran and Jesse Nwabueze had chances that they couldn’t convert. Aveley were hunting in packs.

But they were almost too comfortable. They’d evidently forgotten that amongst the white shirts lay one of the finest footballers in non-league around when with the ball at his feet. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has had an interesting career, but what remains is a man still very much capable of finding the net from just about any angle.

The Aveley defence backed off and, with the far corner in his sights, he found it with surgical precision. A beautiful, curling, arching thing that clinked the top corner. Parkside was a silent place. 

But seven minutes later the energy had returned and the noise rippled in the soft, cold breeze. A defensive mistake allowed Nash to run through and pick his spot, matching Emmanuel-Thomas’ precision from a few gasps of breaths prior. 

At the resumption of the match following the pause Charlie Lambert was replaced by Destiny Ojo. For all of Aveley’s dominance there was still life in this one, still a flicker of hope. The hosts, whose best outcome now is to finish 2nd this season, had to play with the same intensity. There was no reason why they shouldn’t. 

Nwabueze was also exceptional here: a constant, roving presence in the face of the Whitehawk defence. With just over 10 minutes of the second half played he picked up his goal from a fine free-kick: crashing the ball over the wall and rooting Lennon MacLorg in the process. That really was that.

Soon after Saunders sought for a change. Three, in fact, with Florian Kastrati, Fate Kotey and Andrew Briggs all joining the fray. Their impact was noticed, albeit Aveley easing off their pressure and penetration a touch.

Yet despite the one-sided scoreline Whitehawk did not throw in the towel. Ojo capitalised on a shoddy clearance to slam home his side’s second with 13 minutes of the match remaining, to the home dugout’s frustration. The Hawks pushed up the pitch and went for an unlikely third, but it was not to fall.

As the time approached 5pm the referee called an end to proceedings: a valiant second half showing that proceeded Aveley’s crushing first half, Nash’s half. 

So, where do we go from here? It’s been a season complete with positives – unquestionably, too. With division status pretty much secured is there one eye on next season already? Perhaps, but what remains is a team full of quality without much of a target. Play offs were recently a distant dream, now an improbability. 

And that’s completely fine. For a side who have moved forward this season, who overcame the early perils of a past campaign and pushed in the right direction, there is still progress on and off the pitch. And for this club, our club, we can ask for little more than that.