Isthmian League

Whitehawk FC Exit FA Trophy After 2-1 Defeat to Potters Bar

Whitehawk FC’s FA Trophy journey came to an end following a 2-1 defeat to Potters Bar Town on 5th October 2024. In a bizarre and frustrating match at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium, the Hawks battled hard but ultimately fell short, bowing out of the competition in dramatic fashion.

A Bright Start

The match began positively for Whitehawk, with Charlie Walker putting the Hawks ahead after just 13 minutes. A smart cutback from Charlie Lambert found Walker, whose left-footed strike flew past Potters Bar goalkeeper Shala to give the Hawks an early lead. The goal was Whitehawk’s only clear chance in a tight first half, as both teams worked to maintain possession in the midfield.

Potters Bar Respond

Despite taking the lead, Whitehawk’s advantage didn’t last long. In the 33rd minute, Potters Bar drew level through Brandon Adams, who pounced on a rebound after the initial effort came off the post. Adams thrust the ball into the net from close range, making it 1-1 at half-time.

The second half resumed with the Hawks looking to regain control, but the match quickly became stop-start under the referee’s whistle.

Second-Half Setbacks

In the 54th minute, Potters Bar took the lead for the first time in the match, scoring from close range to make it 2-1. Whitehawk pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and in the 67th minute, Chris Whelpdale thought he had found it when he diverted Walker’s effort past Shala. However, the assistant referee’s flag denied the Hawks the equalising goal, much to the frustration of the travelling supporters.

As the match wore on, the Hawks’ task became even harder. In the 85th minute, KJ Osu was shown a red card, reducing Whitehawk to 10 men. Despite the setback, the team continued to press, but the challenges kept mounting.

In the 89th minute, Kai Jennings went down in the penalty area after a clash with Potters Bar’s Hayles. However, the referee adjudged Jennings to have committed the foul, adding to the night’s controversial moments.

A Frantic Finish

Deep into stoppage time, Whelpdale had another chance to level the game, but his shot from a tight angle agonisingly sailed over the bar. The final whistle blew shortly afterwards, ending Whitehawk’s FA Trophy campaign.

Match photos

McNeilly’s Reflections

Manager Ross McNeilly was disappointed with the result, noting in his post-match interview that while the Hawks created chances, they were not able to convert them. “We’ve had maybe four or five really good chances, and we didn’t take them,” McNeilly admitted. He also highlighted defensive lapses as a key issue, adding, “We knew where they would hurt us, and we haven’t defended that well enough.”

While the match was filled with controversial refereeing decisions, McNeilly emphasised that the team needed to take accountability for the loss, saying, “We can blame the refs, but we have to take accountability as a group.”

Moving Forward

Despite the FA Trophy exit, Whitehawk will now focus on upcoming cup and league matches. With quick turnarounds ahead, McNeilly is determined to build momentum and improve the team’s consistency. “We’ve struggled a little bit away from home, but we need to find ways to win and dig in,” he said, looking ahead to the next fixtures.

As the team looks to bounce back, Whitehawk FC are excited to welcome Oscar Borg to the squad. The left-back joins from Welling United and is expected to strengthen the team in the weeks ahead. Borg’s addition comes at an important time, and the club is looking forward to seeing him make an impact.

Additionally, the Hawks are back in action tonight, 8th October 2024, in the Sussex Senior Cup, where they’ll face Broadbridge Heath. McNeilly will be eager to see his team put this FA Trophy disappointment behind them and get back to winning ways.

Although the Hawks are out of the FA Trophy, their sights are now set on bouncing back and restoring confidence as they continue their season.

Up the Hawks!

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