Whitehawk fought hard to secure a well-deserved point in a tightly contested match against high-flying Billericay Town at the Enclosed Ground. Despite facing a formidable opponent, David Altendorff’s side showed resilience and grit, especially after Billericay was reduced to ten men in the second half.

First Half

The match started on a promising note for Whitehawk, with two new faces in the starting lineup: Essa Janneh and Chevron McLean, alongside the returning Luke Robinson from international duty with Bermuda. Right from the outset, Whitehawk pressed forward, aiming to take control.

The Hawks’ first real chance came in the 22nd minute when Nzala flashed a dangerous cross along Billericay’s six-yard box, but no one could get on the end of it. Jennings and Sutherland combined well throughout the half, with Jennings setting up a left-footed effort for Sutherland in the 27th minute, which curled wide of the far post.

Robinson, making his presence felt on the right, flashed a shot across goal in the 44th minute, nearly catching Billericay’s keeper, Donkin, off guard. The visitors also had a few promising moments, including McKenzie’s pass to Jalloh in the 35th minute, but Jalloh’s shot went harmlessly wide. At halftime, both sides remained locked in a goalless draw, though Whitehawk looked the more threatening team.

Second Half

The Hawks returned with renewed intent, immediately challenging Billericay’s defence. Robinson continued to be a standout performer, twisting and turning in the penalty area before forcing Donkin into a crucial save just after the break.

Billericay’s fortunes changed in the 69th minute when Montel McKenzie received a red card for a late challenge on Jennings, leaving the visitors down to ten men. Whitehawk sought to capitalize, with Robinson winning a series of corners and Janneh almost finding the net with a hooked shot in the 67th minute, only for Donkin to deny him with a fine save.

In a dramatic twist, Billericay were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute for a foul in the box. Moses Emmanuel stepped up, but Huffer produced a fantastic save, diving to his left to keep the score level, much to the delight of the home fans.

Whitehawk made several substitutions in the latter stages, with Walker, Lambert, and Shubbar all introduced in an attempt to find a breakthrough. Despite the extra man advantage, however, the Hawks struggled to break down a resilient Billericay defence, with the visitors doing just enough to keep Whitehawk at bay.

Full-Time Reflections

The match ended 0-0, a result that Altendorff saw as both a point gained and an opportunity missed. “We would have taken a point before the game, given our respective league positions, but we probably could have nicked all three,” he said post-match. The manager praised Robinson’s work rate and hailed the contributions of the new arrivals, particularly Janneh, who slotted into the team seamlessly.

Despite not finding the net, Whitehawk will take positives from a solid defensive performance and a clean sheet against one of the league’s strongest sides. With Hastings United up next on Tuesday night, the Hawks will look to build on this performance and turn their hard work into three points.

Whitehawk Starting XI:
Huffer, O’Sullivan, McLean, Briggs (C), Janneh, Hawkins, Robinson, Jennings, Luer, Taggart, Sutherland.

Substitutes:
Lambert, Shubbar, Walker, Borg, Miles.