THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW: WHITEHAWK (AWAY) KO 3.00 PM

The Hamlet take the trip south to face the National League South Hawks with a place in the last 16 of the FA Trophy at stake.

In what has been a frustrating season for the Hawks the Buildbase FA Trophy has provide a rare burst of light as the club has struggled in the lower reaches of National League South for most of the campaign. The Sussex club have had to battle hard to reach the Second Round Proper emerging victorious in each of the previous rounds only after away replay wins over first St Albans City then Weymouth, both clubs Hawks’ rivals in National League South.

Entertaining the Saints at The Enclosed Ground at the last qualifying stage, the Hawks looked to be on their way out as Louie Theophanous gave the visitors the lead with a thunderbolt of a shot with just 11 left on the clock. However, with the seconds running out, Wilfred Tagbo found a late leveller to send the sides back to Clarence Park. The Hawks took full advantage of their “Get Out of Jail” Card in the rematch. They may have seen manager Richard Hill depart for Villa Park in the build-up to the game but under caretaker bosses Ben Strevens and Alan Payne they sucked the life out of the Saints, the match settled by Danny Mills cool finish just after the interval. Dipo Akinyemi, on loan from Stevenage, did come close to equalising late on but his header crashed out from the underside of the crossbar.

The draw brought Weymouth along the coast to East Brighton. The contest seemed to follow a similar pattern to that of the St Albans encounter but this time the boot was on the other foot as the Terras snatched the late leveller at The Enclosed Ground. Under the cosh from the 12th minute when Mike West’s delightful bent a drive into the top corner, Weymouth got themselves back on level terms through Charlie Davis 10 minutes from time. 60 seconds later the Hawks were back in control as Mills stroked one home. That seemed to that until a foul on Stewart Yetton gave the Terras a penalty, one Chris Sheppard coolly converted to send the side’s back to Dorset for a replay. The same Tuesday night that Dulwich Hamlet saw off obstinate Royston Town thanks to Nyren Clunis’ late winner, it was also a late goal that sent Hawks through. Prior to the tie, Strevens had upped sticks and headed back to Eastleigh, an omen of sorts perhaps, leaving Payne in charge along with defender Paul Reid. However, first Whitehawk had to overcome the obstacle of conceding a penalty, one Weymouth’s Davis converted despite Ross Flitney getting a hand to the effort. It remained one-nil to the hosts until four minutes into the second half when an inswinging corner found Ramon Aldavert, who stooped to head past Weymouth’s player-manager Jason Matthews in goal. It looked as it the sides could not be separated but with less than 10 minutes left on the clock came the killer moment. Terras’ defender Stephane Zubar was dismissed after tussling with Mills on the edge of box and further retribution came was added as Dan Harding arrowed the free kick into the top corner to clinch a 2-1 triumph.

The knockout competitions seem to bring out the fighting spirit in the Hawks and, after their heroics in the Emirates FA Cup in recent. Las season they reached the Second Round Proper after defeating National League Lincoln City 5-3 in a dingdong tie at the Enclosed Ground. That set up a trip to League Two Dagenham & Redbridge, a game that brought the Hawks to national attention though probably as much for the unique dress sense of manager Steve King and his “dad dancing” amongst the Hawks Ultras at Victoria Road. Unfortunately, the replay only brought heartache with The Daggers claiming the glory but only after extra time. And whisper it quietly but for the Hamlet there is revenge on the cards for one of the Hawks’ earlier victims in that run were Dulwich themselves, beaten 4-2 at the Second Qualifying Round stage. The game provided lots of thrills and spills, some comedy capers from the man in black and plenty of controversy to discuss over a pint (or a few) of Brighton’s finest. However in the end it was that man Mills who proved the man of the moment scoring three of his side’s goals to earn the match ball. This season the Hawks again made the First Round Proper, recovering from 2-1 down to turn over East Thurrock 3-2 at Rookery Hill before dispatching Merthyr Town 2-0. However this time the hunter would become the prey as Luke Benbow scored twice for Northern Premier League side Stourbridge in a 3-0 replay win that set up a home tie with Northampton Town in the Second Round, a game in which The Glassboys would write another page in the history of FA Cup upsets.

To spare any blushes Whitehawk’s National League South campaign might best be left to last. It has been a turbulent one with much managerial shuffling. First to depart was Pablo Arsenio, who had taken on the job in the wake of Steve King’s unpopular departure in February last year. Arsenio had taken the Hawks to playoff semis and signed a two-year contract in May 2016 but after just one win in the Hawks’ opening eight games his head was on the chopping block. The club moved swiftly to bring in former Eastleigh manager Richard Hill, the new boss launching a raid on his former club signing five former Spitfires players and bring in a further two on loan. Shortly afterwards he executed his night of the long knives as seven Brazilian players, signed at the start of the season, were sent packing. Ten game later, five won, five lost, Hill himself departing for Villa Park to take on a scouting role for Steve Bruce. In his short tenure at the helm Hill had dragged his side out of the relegation spots into midtable.

One of those Eastleigh arrivals, former Barnet striker Ben Strevens took the reins in tandem with Alan Payne., but the tide was turning and Strevens was soon heading back to Eastleigh. From peaking in 11th spot Whitehawk now fell the relegation dogfight dragging them down. Not since late October, FA Trophy aside, have the Hawks posted a victory. Then the casualties were Margate, boracic and bottom, beaten 2-0 at The Enclosed Ground, Mills and West doing the damage with the goals. Back-to-back home defeats followed with Truro City winning 4-2 and East Thurrock United 3-2 before the Hawks returned home pointless from Poole Town after going down 3-1. A madcap match at home to Gosport Borough saw the Hawks blow a two-goal lead after Reid’s 69th minute header had made it 4-2. The hosts had the chance to make it 5-3 but Borough’s stand-in goalie, defender Brett Poate, kept out Strevens’ spot kick allowing Gosport to rally. With Glen Southam dismissed, Gosport scrambled home an equaliser to rob Whitehawk of a morale boosting victory.

In the wake of that draw, Whitehawk’s league woes intensified, beaten 2-0 at home by Bath City. The festive trip to Eastbourne Borough provided plenty of thrills and spills, twists and turns but no points for a valiant Hawks display. The Sports lost their ‘keeper Charlie Horlock early on to injury. With no understudy on the bench defender Brian Dutton took over but was powerless to prevent the Hawks taking the lead through Marvin Hamilton. Eastbourne Borough retaliated quickly through Ryan Worrall before a red card for the travellers’ keeper Lucas Covolan changed the whole complexion. Reacting to what he felt was a poor challenge, the ‘keeper was given his marching orders and striker Reece Connolly donned the gloves. Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was the Hawks who came out all guns blazing, retaking the lead through Harding only for an instant reply for Sports’ Mark Hughes to make it 2-2 within 60 seconds. Weight of numbers finally told on the hour mark as erstwhile Dulwich striker Nathaniel Pinney prodded one in past the stand-in stopper. The tin hat put on things as Jamie Taylor made it 4-2 at the death. Any thoughts of speedy revenge were washed away as the return fixture back in Brighton fell afoul of a New Year’s Day deluge rendering The Enclosed Ground pitch unplayable.

Whitehawk’s last league outing came on Saturday as they introduced a number of new faces to the squad including former Barnet striker, Kevin Lisbie, and midfielder Brian Howard, who famously scored the winner for Barnsley at Anfield in the Yorkshire club’s epic 2008 cup run. However, it was a less illustrious name that earned all the plaudits on the day. Tom Stewart had arrived from Ryman South side Whyteleafe ostensibly to plug the gap left by Covolan’s suspension and injury to the experienced Flitney. However after a string of fine saves that almost helped snatch a point the tyro number one might prove difficult to dislodge. Had it not been for Max Cornhill breaking the deadlock ten minutes from time, the Hawks might have flown the coop with a valuable point under their wings. As it is the defeat left them perched perilously on the edge of the abyss in 19th spot, ahead of Concord Rangers in the last relegation spot on goal difference alone, albeit with a pair of games in hand.

This Saturday’s FA Trophy Second Round tie takes place at The Enclosed Ground, East Brighton Park, Wilsons Avenue, Brighton BN2 5TS. Kick-off time is 3.00 pm.

Admission Prices:

• Adult (17 Years Old and Over): £12
• Concessions (OAP, Students with Valid ID and GMB Members): £7
• 12 To 16 Year Olds: £3
• Under 12s: Free

Please click here for details of Whitehawk’s special deal for students - get Match Entry, a Brighton Bier and Chips for just £10!

If you are concerned about the weather impacting this game updates will be posted on the Dulwich Hamlet Twitter feed as and when we get them.