Saturday’s trip was a spontaneous journey, one or two games stuck out in the FA Cup and more wanting to see if there was a cup upset on the cards I plumped for Sevenoaks vs Whitehawk.
The Hawks now plying their trade at Step 3 were play-off winners from the Oaks Isthmian South East Division, both sides undergoing transformation of players to both improve and better themselves on last year.
A rare sunny afternoon for a game of football as September began, the 3G surface of course never in doubt through the season for a postponed game, weather to be cherished with so little of it during the course of the summer months.
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The early stages of the game were fairly even, Hawks were moving the ball around nicely but Oaks were holding their line well at the penalty area, Amadou Tangara with very little to do. Whilst possession was pretty much shared, Mitch Walker at the opposite end was also yet to be tested.
The home side first real sight of goal came just after the half hour mark, the ever dangerous Fumnaya Shomotun cutting inside but hitting the side netting. Despite the hosts getting into some good positions shots weren’t being taken and the sides went in level at half time, Hawks possibly glad to reset and go again.
Oaks came close again to breaking the deadlock ten minutes into the second half, Shomotun again coming inside and this time hitting the post with the ball bouncing away to safety.
Walker kept the Hawks in the tie on 70 minutes, Rian Bray peeling away to the back post and a finger tip save from the keeper kept the scores level as the visitors struggled to get out of their own half.
One or two chances did come the way of Whitehawk, but more often than not a block was incoming from an Oaks defender, defenders pretty much on top for both sides all afternoon.
Oaks had a couple of further chances to score but with one cleared off the line and another clearing the crossbar, the two sides have to battle it out again on Tuesday evening back in Brighton for a place in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
An entertaining 0-0 draw, Oaks will be frustrated they didn’t finish the tie off and Hawks will be glad of the second chance to make the next round. The home side certainly had the better of the play whilst the visitors will need to up the tempo on Tuesday to ensure cup progress continues.
Great as always to catch up before and after with long time friends PA announcer Andrew Gidley and goalkeeping coach Julian Leigh, guys I’ve for known for a good many years and massive involvement in non-league football.
