Manager Ross Standen earned his first win as Whitehawk manager following a 1-0 win over Sittingbourne in a cagey affair at the TerraPura Ground. 

The sea blue skies that coated the arena at the dawn of the match were replaced by a swath of drab clouds as the Hawks attacked the Sea End. Gloomy too was the opening half as the contest lacked any sort of fluidity.

‘The Brickies’ threatened on sporadic occasion, most notably on the stroke of the half-hour mark as Adam El-Abd was penalised for bundling Ahmed Abdulla over in the box. Up stepped Kane Rowland from the spot who sent his Channel-bound effort into the roof of the scaffolding as the half dwindled away to nothing.

Rowland was busy. But he misfired again on this occasion. Somehow beating the offside trap, the ball was played into the frontman who snatched at his effort, prodding the ball past Nathan Stroomberg, and past the far post.

Rejuvenation from the hosts was required. And it arrived to full effect. Omarr Lawson slipped the unmarked Ronnie Conlon through on goal who prodded the ball past the onrushing Brooks to fire Whitehawk in front. Liftoff.

Before the celebrations had even finished, the Hawks were rewarded a penalty of their own. Perhaps a touch soft for a supposed trip on Henry Muggeridge, Splatt took the honours himself. A moment of sheer deja vu, it too was sent flying into the stand as the fragile scoreline remained.

The hosts were relentless. Chances arrived at high frequency as Demas Ramsis sent a fizzing drive inches wide of the post before Splatt saw an equally fierce effort from similar range smack the underside of the crossbar before being cleared away to safety.

But the side visiting from Kent should have departed the Sussex coast with a point as Rowland again spurned a brilliant opportunity at the death. The ball was played to the back post where Taylor Fisher nodded it back into the mixer for the free Rowland. From yards out and little resistance, he spooned his header over the bar. Away fans with hands on their heads, the dejection was clear. Whitehawk held on for a valuable three points.

A welcome victory for Standen and his side, there is no lengthy wait for the next fixture as a trip to Hastings beckons on Bank Holiday Monday.