Heartbreak as Hawks lose Senior Cup Final 3-2 after extra time
Sun May 18 2014, 18:18
The Hawks' Hampshire Senior Cup Final clash with Basingstoke Town ended in defeat on Monday night as Liam Enver-Marnum's 118th minute goal saw the Dragons win the prestige encounter 3-2 after extra time.
Enver-Marnum's presence was felt by the Hawks from the start of the long match as it was his initial shot in the 17th minute that was parried by keeper Charlie Searle for former Westleigh Park regular Manny Williams to score. The Hawks were then two down and facing defeat in the 71st minute when Enver-Marnum scored himself.
It wasn't until the 86th minute that the Hawks began to force their way into the tie, and it took Christian Nanetti to dispatch his own penalty for the side to register on the scoresheet. But then in the sixth minute of added time a Hawks corner was kept in the box by Ryan Woodford and Ed Harris managed to force the ball home.
Both sides saw chances in a tense half hour of extra time, but it was Enver-Marnum who made it count at the death when he reclaimed a cleared corner some way out and returned to the box to fire past Searle again.
MATCH FACTSHEET
Last minute disappointment as Dover sneak fifth spot
Thu May 1 2014, 16:57
Despite a phenomenal run through the spring, the Hawks missed out on a playoff place in their last match of the season by a single goal. Whether it had come for Hayes against Dover, or for the Hawks against Tonbridge, just one goal would have put them into a play-off semi-final with Sutton United.
The Hawks were aware before going into Saturday’s game against relegated Tonbridge that a win was all they would need, but neither side could find the net in what proved to be a disappointing end to the season for a buoyant side, who have lost only five of their 23 games played this calendar year.
Dover meanwhile knew that a win for them and a defeat or draw for the Hawks would be the only way they could claim the final playoff spot, and when Barry Cogan’s 87th minute penalty hit the back of the net, it gave them that just as the Hawks’ game was finishing.
The Hawks then are left to reflect on a tumultuous season that saw them play no less than 15 cup games, with the Senior Cup final yet to come, a semi-final appearance in the FA Trophy, a league programme that all but halted for two months in the winter, and a three match a week schedule through March and April that tested their mettle to the utmost - showing them ultimately to be a considerable force to be reckoned with in the Conference South.
MATCH FACTSHEET
Message boards fixed
Fri Apr 25 2014, 15:49
The message boards are now back up to normal speed.
Last match, last chance
Thu Apr 24 2014, 19:41
The Hawks know that a win against relegated Tonbridge on Saturday will ensure their place in the play-offs after losing 3-1 to Maidenhead United at Westleigh Park last night.
The penultimate game of the regular season saw the Hawks 2-0 down at half time after a brace of goals from Adam Clifton scored in the 25th and 36th minutes put Maidenhead on course for three much needed points in their battle to escape relegation.
Danny Green then added a third for the Magpies three minutes after the break as the Hawks struggled to gain any foothold in the game at all.
It wasn’t until injury time that the hosts found a consolation goal, scored by 75th minute substitute Eddie Hutchinson, but it wasn’t enough to stop Maidenhead ending an unbeaten run of seven games at home for the Hawks.
While the win means that a further victory for Maidenhead at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday may be enough to save them from relegation, the Hawks remain in the mix with Ebbsfleet and Dover for the last two play-off spots. A win for the Hawks will guarantee a play-off semi final tie with either Sutton United or Bromley, while a draw or defeat will mean the outcome of Dover’s away game at Hayes and Yeading may see the Hawks miss out by as little as just goal difference.
MATCH FACTSHEET
Forum pages
Thu Apr 24 2014, 18:53
The problem with the speed of the forum pages is being investigated.
