Isthmian League

Hawks Beat Bears in Sussex Senior Cup

Whitehawk FC secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over Broadbridge Heath in the Sussex Senior Cup on a rainy night at The Enclosed Ground last night. Despite challenging weather conditions, the Hawks controlled the game and progressed to the next round.

A Bright Start for the Hawks

The early stages saw both sides creating opportunities. Whitehawk’s goalkeeper Filip Chalupniczak was called into action early, making an important save to deny a long-range effort from Broadbridge Heath. Whitehawk soon applied pressure, with a strong offensive play down the left.

The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Oscar Borg, making his debut, skipped past a player and delivered an excellent cross from the left. Gianluca Botti was perfectly positioned to head home, giving Whitehawk a 1-0 lead.

Broadbridge Heath’s Equaliser

Just two minutes later, Broadbridge Heath levelled the score at 1-1. After a quick break, the visitors capitalised with a deflected shot looping over Chalupniczak and into the net. The equaliser briefly shifted the momentum, but Whitehawk quickly regained control.

Seager Restores Whitehawk’s Lead

Whitehawk responded quickly, retaking the lead in the 22nd minute. O’Sullivan played Sutherland down the right-hand side, who cut the ball back into the box for Seager. Seager made no mistake, slotting the ball home to restore the Hawks’ lead at 2-1. The score remained the same as both teams headed into the break.

Second-Half Performance

Heavy rain greeted the teams as they came out for the second half, but the conditions didn’t dampen Whitehawk’s spirits. Just five minutes into the second period, the Hawks extended their lead. From a corner, the ball found its way back to O’Sullivan, who delivered a pinpoint cross to Botti, who headed home his second goal of the night to make it 3-1.

Broadbridge Heath struggled to get back into the game in the second half, despite some half-chances. Whitehawk’s defence stayed organised, and Chalupniczak had little to do as the Hawks comfortably saw out the win.

Manager’s Post-Match Thoughts

Speaking after the game, Whitehawk manager Ross McNeilly reflected on the wet conditions and the positives from the match. “Yeah, I can tell you that it was very wet. I think it was good to get through. I think we played some good football, in particular in the first half,” McNeilly said. He was also pleased with the minutes given to certain players, adding, “It was nice to get some minutes for Jerry [O’Sullivan], Seig [Will Seager], and Tyler Cox — Jerry and Seager in particular though.”

McNeilly highlighted the importance of seeing players like Oscar Borg, Tyrese Sutherland, and Tyler Cox in action, saying, “They were going to be important for us.” He continued, “Obviously, Luca [Botti] getting two goals was really good as well. So there’s lots of positives.”

He expressed satisfaction with the squad rotation, which allowed key players like Charlie Walker, Chris Whelpdale, Greg Luer, Emmanuel Mensah (Manny), and Connor Cody to get some rest. “Taggart was excellent, and it was obviously good that we got an opportunity to rest five or six players,” McNeilly remarked.

Thank You to the Fans

A special thanks to the Whitehawk fans who braved the tough conditions and cold rain to support the team on the night. Despite the challenging weather, your support did not go unnoticed, and the team appreciates your dedication.

Into the Next Round

Whitehawk’s 3-1 victory means they move on to the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup. The team will look to build on this performance as they continue their cup and league campaigns. Strong performances from Botti, Borg, and Sutherland played a crucial role in securing the victory.

Next Up

Whitehawk FC are back at home this Saturday, 12th October, as they face Dover Athletic at 3:00pm at The Enclosed Ground. With four consecutive home wins, the Hawks will be looking to make it five in a row. Let’s get behind Ross and the boys as they continue their strong run of form. 

Up the Hawks!


Team Lineup:

  • Filip Chapuniczak
  • Jerry O’Sullivan
  • Oscar Borg
  • Will Seager
  • Tarik Moore-Azille (C)
  • Henry Hawkins
  • Tyler Cox
  • KJ Osu
  • Gianluca Botti
  • George Taggart
  • Tyrese Sutherland

Substitutes:

  • Kai Jennings
  • Adrian Jimenez Nsue-Sha
  • Charlie Walker
  • Finley Miles
  • Mo Shubbar

Leave a Reply