MATCH REPORT | HAWKS 0 CHATHAM TOWN 0
On the back of a fantastic result against our neighbours Lewes, Whitehawk welcomed another chance to move up in this world we call the Isthmian Premier League. Chatham Town, a side trying to solidify its place in the playoff spots, looking to upset.
It proved to be exactly that. A first half red card for Chatham’s Jordy Robins turned what potentially could’ve been an exciting game between two good teams into a slugfest. This doesn’t mean the game had no chances, Whitehawk had plenty of opportunities to capitalise, we just couldn’t quite get the capture that usually ends in the Din End screaming.
Some of the 332 people at the McLaren Enclosed Ground today may have said that they would’ve got on the end of Charlie Lambert’s fizzed in cross/shot—one of 3 good first half opportunities—and maybe some of them would’ve. Unfortunately for us hawks fans today, that wasn’t the reality.
Chatham knew the game had changed for them after the red card. Anything would do and an amazing double save from the Chatham keeper kept us at bay at the end of the first half. As fans queued patiently for a beer, we asked ourselves how we weren’t one to the good.
Our second half was more of the same. Domination of the ball and a goal line clearance gave hawks fans something to shout about, and shout we did. A goal that was chalked off for offside raised the volume even louder. However, ultimately our efforts were in vain as the ref called time on a 0-0 result.
Andrew Briggs left the ground today with the Man of the Match award, also thankfully unscathed from the challenge that led to the red card. There were moments today when everyone on the sideline could see his ability to control the ball, move it swiftly, and just appreciate what we saw.
Once again though we saw a collective that have proven themselves to be a very tricky customer. Shaun Saunders has, as per usual, built us a team to be proud of. A team that fights for everything. We—the fans—are lucky to have a team that runs themselves into the ground every game come rain or shine. Some may say it’s the bare minimum. For a Whitehawk team, it’s an absolute must.
Interestingly enough, the non league gods have given us the chance to remedy this result straight away with a return fixture to Chatham Town on Tuesday. A chance to reclaim a position in the top half of the table and build a run of form into the end of the season.
Report by: Sean Farley
Attendance: 332
Hawks: MacLorg, Wright, Odogwu-Atkinson, Briggs, Cooper, O’Toole (c) (Harris 46′), Ojo (Kasrati 71′), Daly, Lodovica, Emmanuel-Thomas (Eze 65′), Lambert
Subs not used: Wade, Robertson
