Hawks’ route to the second round
Taking a look back at the wins to secure Marine cup tie
Tommy Wright and Roarie Deacon have played starring roles in Hawks' run to the second round of the FA Cup.
Both players scored in the first three rounds against Horsham, Chatham and Bath City.
Here, The News looks at how Paul Doswell's squad set up this weekend's trip to fellow non-leaguers Marine…
Second qualifying round Hawks 2 Horsham 1
Roarie Deacon fired Hawks into a half-time lead against Isthmian League Premier opposition in a tie switched to Bognor’s Nyewood Lane because the new 3G pitch at Westleigh Park wasn’t ready.
Tommy Wright celebrated his competitive debut for the club by doubling the lead, with Horsham - who rarely threatened Ross Worner’s goal throughout a tie played in heavy rain - grabbing a late consolation.
‘We created four or five excellent chances in the first half and some unbelievable chances in the second half,’ said boss Paul Doswell.
‘Their keeper made some amazing saves. It could have been six or seven.
‘We played some great onetouch stuff at times - until they scored I felt as comfortable as I’ve ever felt in an FA Cup tie.
‘A game is never over at 2-0 and we needed a third to kill them off.
‘Overall, it was a good day at the office.’
Hawks: Worner, Read, Straker, Magri, Robson, Clifford (Ajakaiye, 79), Gomis, Widdrington, Iaciofano (Sinclair, 77), Wright, Deacon.
Third qualifying round Hawks 4 Chatham Town 1
Chatham might play three levels below Hawks in the Southern Counties East League, but they are no mugs.
Just take a look at the league table - Chatham entered lockdown earlier this month in pole position having won 10 of their 11 games and scored 60 goals in the process. But Hawks survived a nervy 15-minute period after taking an early lead through Joe Iaciofano to end up comfortable winners.
Roarie Deacon added a second before half-time and Iaciofano made it 3-0, heading into an empty net after Bedsente Gomis’ shot had hit the bar.
Tommy Wright struck a fourth before Chatham grabbed a late consolation.
Hawks: Worner, Read, Straker, Magri, Robson, Clifford (Rowe, 61), Widdrington, Gomis (Poku, 67), Wright (Sinclair, 67), Iaciofano, Deacon.
Fourth qualifying round Bath City 0 Hawks 3
Hawks produced a superb performance at Twerton Park to book a first round proper place for the first time in six years.
Tommy Wright and Roarie Deacon both scored for the third round running while substitute Theo Widdrington rounded off the scoring.
The Hawks’ decision to stay in a hotel the previous evening paid dividends.
Doswell said: ‘It’s the first time we’ve ever stayed overnight since I’ve been here - it’s the first time we’ve actually gone on a coach.
‘Normally the players make their own way to away games.’
Hawks: Worner, Read, Straker, Magri, Diarra, Robson, Taylor, Clifford (Gomis, 73), Wright, Iaciofano (Sinclair, 82), Deacon (Widdrington, 67).
First round Hawks 1 Cray Valley Paper Mills 0 For the third time in four rounds, Hawks were drawn against lower tier opposition.
Cray Valley, from the Isthmian League South East division, were no mugs - having come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at National League Maidenhead in the previous round. The Hawks were pushed all the way but Bedsente Gomis’ first half header took the hosts through to round two. That’s despite having to play the final half-hour or so with 10 men following
Number of FA Cup matches Hawks have won to reach the second round proper midfielder Godfrey Poku’s dismissal.
‘The better team on the day lost. We got away with one today - we were a bit ill-disciplined at times - but don’t forget these are never easy games,’ was Doswell’s honest post match assessment.as the Hawks match it into round two for the just the second time in their 22-year history.
Hawks: Worner, Read, Mclennan (Straker, 45), Diarra, Magri, Poku, Taylor, Gomis, Iaciofano (Robson, 67), Wright, Deacon (Sinclair, 84).