HAWKS HALT MILLERS ROAD RUN
PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
WHITEHAWK 2 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 0 - 24 AUG 2024 - ATT 264
Goals: W - Lambert 7, Jennings 88
The Millers unbeaten on the road run of 30 league and national cups games finally came to a halt as the Hawks run out 2-0 victors. It meant Steve McKImm and his team tasted defeat in a major competition for the first time on their travels since the start of last season, when McKimm joined, a run comprising of 21 league and 9 FA Cup & FA Trophy games. A remarkable feat and club record.
Valley will rue missed chances in the first half when they were unable to find that final ball or clinical finish in front of goal. A couple of excellent saves by the hosts keeper, tipping a Danny Waldren header over in the first half and a diving one handed save to push away an Adam Coombes header late on were key moments. In the event two defensive lapses proved fatal, first Charlie Lambert got through on the left to slot past Oliver Pain from an acute angle in the seventh minute and then with the clock ticking down Kai Jennings dispossesed Kiki Oshilaja in front of goal putting him clear on his own giving Pain no chance as he fired home into the top right hand corner.
Opposition match report by Isaac Gleave as published in the NLP
WHITEHAWK returned to winning ways with a clinical victory over Cray Valley Paper Mills. It took just seven minutes for Ross McNeilly’s side to storm into the lead, as Charlie Lambert fired home after being given space to roam on the left-side of the pitch. Cray Valley’s Danny Waldren came close to levelling soon after, but his header from a few yards out sailed over the crossbar. Charlie Walker saw a shot whistle wide of the post before Mo Shubbar’s free-kick dropped to Lambert, who saw his effort saved this time around.
In the lead at the break, the Hawks aimed to build on their advantage folscoring lowing the restart but they’d be made to wait. The Millers – who have made a good start to life at Step 3 following promotion from the Isthmian South East last season – looked for a leveller, but their attempts were met with little avail as Josh Strizovic continued to keep his goal clear of any danger. With time ticking the Hawks countered. It was four against one but Fage was deemed offside. Whitehawk did finally double their advantage two minutes from time through Kai Jennings, nicking the ball off the defender before slamming the ball beyond the keeper to confirm all three points would be staying in Sussex. It moves the Hawks into 13th place while Cray sit fourth.
STAR MAN: Kai Jennins (Whitehawk)
Millers: Pain, Williams, Asiedu. Lee (c), Oshilaja, Ademiluyi (Anau 70), Waldren, Vigor (Della Verde 75), Ibrahiym, Coker (Coombes 69), Parker (Barrington 87) Subs not used: Chambers
Cautions: None
Hawks: Strizovic, Osu (Seagar 48), Showman, Mensah, Moore-Azille, Cody, Jennings, Shubbar (Fage 59), Leur (Nsue-Sha 92), Walker (c) (Taggart 65), Lambert (Briggs 46)
Cautions: Walker, Osu, Strizovic, Jennigs, Mensah, Leur
Referee: Will Briers
Assistants: Thomas Price and Pete Andrews
Post Match Interview: Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-gives-his-thoughts-on-millers-20-defeat-away-to-whitehawk-fc-7924-203572.html
Match Photos: Romana Rule of Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/whitehawk-v-millers-7924-photos-inspire-socials-1113008.html