Whitehawk delivered a performance for the ages, overcoming a first-half red card to defeat Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 at the Enclosed Ground. The Hawks showed grit, determination, and quality in a pulsating encounter that thrilled the home crowd.

First Half: A Rocky Start

The match began evenly, with both teams looking to gain control. Dulwich Hamlet’s early chance came in the 16th minute, but Jeffrey’s cutback to Mills resulted in a shot over the bar. The Hawks responded through Imran Kayani, whose dangerous cross was turned behind for a corner.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 39th minute when Jasper Sheik miscontrolled a back pass and brought down the Dulwich attacker in the box. Sheik was shown a red card, leaving Whitehawk down to 10 men. Rob O’Toole stepped into goal and got a hand to Luke Wanadio’s penalty, but couldn’t keep it out, giving Dulwich a 1-0 lead.

Second Half: Turning the Tide

Despite being a man down, Whitehawk came out for the second half with renewed purpose. The equaliser came in the 63rd minute when Andrew Briggs confidently converted a penalty after Oscar Borg was fouled in the area.

Just six minutes later, Luke Robinson produced a moment of magic. Picking up the ball in midfield, he danced past several defenders before firing a stunning strike into the back of the net, sending the Din into raptures.

Late Drama

The closing stages were intense, with Rob O’Toole making a series of outstanding saves to preserve the lead. Dulwich pushed hard for an equaliser, but the Hawks’ defense held firm to secure all three points.

Shaun Saunders’ Post-Match Reaction 🎥

Following the match, manager Shaun Saunders praised his team’s resilience:

Watch the full interview here:

It ends 1-1 here at The Enclosed ground and Shaun Saunders reflects on another point on the board and a positive four game unbeaten run 🔴⚽️ @teamtalksussex pic.twitter.com/mED8a4nlk7

— Whitehawk FC (@HawksFCOfficial) December 21, 2024

Match Information

• Scorers: Andrew Briggs (63′ pen), Luke Robinson (69′) | Luke Wanadio (41′ pen)

• Attendance: 550

• Venue: The Enclosed Ground

Line-Up

Whitehawk: 1 Jasper Sheik, 2 Stefan Wright, 3 Oscar Borg, 4 Andrew Briggs (C) ⚽, 5 Wasiri Williams, 6 Addison Garnett, 7 Emmanuel Mensah, 8 Rob O’Toole, 9 Callum Barlow, 10 Kai Jennings, 11 Imran Kayani
Subs: 12 Will Seager ♻, 14 Charlie Bennett, 15 Charlie Lambert, 16 Harry Bridle ♻, 18 Luke Robinson ⚽ ♻

Looking Ahead

The Hawks head into the New Year in high spirits as they prepare to face Lewes at the Enclosed Ground on January 1st. Join us for what promises to be another exciting fixture. #COYH 🦅