Promotion goal is ‘very difficult’
FA Cup run could hinder Hawks’ league title ambition
Paul Doswell admitted the Hawks' FA Cup run could hamper their chances of achieving the priority of National League South promotion this season.
His side are already playing catch-up, having completed just five league matches this term.
A run to the FA Cup second round - where they face Marine FC on Sunday - has meant some National League South fixtures have been forced to be rescheduled this season.
On top of that, their past two league matches - at Bath and Welling United respectively - have been called off because of Covid-19 concerns in the opposition camps
At present, the Hawks, who sit ninth, have five games in hand on second-placed Dartford but that will increase further with Doswell's side not in National League South action this weekend.
Hawks will have six league games in hand on the Darts - who they lost to in last season’s play-off semi-final - by the time they return to NLS action next Wednesday at home to Hemel Hempstead.
Doswell’s side are currently 12 points adrift of tabletopping Dorking, but would go level on points if they won their four games in hand.
Hawks already have seven league games crammed in next month, plus a possible two FA Trophy ties on December 15 and December 19.
And those nine games would be played in just a 27-day period - between December 2 and December 28.
Doswell stressed it can be tough for non-league teams to keep 'all the balls up in the air' when playing in different competitions.
And he admits the Hawks' task to deliver promotion is already becoming ' very difficult.'
‘I’ve looked at the fixture list and I don’t think we’ve got a spare midweek between now and January 12 already,' said Doswell.
'I think for the next seven weeks we play every week.
‘It is (promotion priority) but it’s already become very difficult.
‘The only good thing about it is players love a rhythm of playing and every single one of them would rather play than train - that’s a fact.
‘It’s very, very difficult at this level with the small squads to keep all the balls up in the air and rightly so.’
Doswell has previously seen a promotion bid fall off on the back of a fine FA Cup run.
During his time as manager of Sutton United he guided the club to a fifth round meeting with Premier League giants Arsenal in 2016/17.
Although t h e y performed miracles to make that tie happen, the U's paid for it in the league. Doswell recalled they were in the play-off positions as they embarked on that FA Cup run, but would end the season in 12th.
He said: 'When I was at Sutton I think we started the cup run in about fourth or fifth then by the time we finished it we were 17th. ‘It’s human nature, not so much for me, but for the players, their eyes will go slightly off the boil.
‘Getting knocked out on Sunday, the only benefit will be we’ll be able to concentrate a lot quicker on the league.'
Hawks were boosted by Thursday’s news that they can welcome supporters back to Westleigh Park under the government’s new Covid19 restrictions. Fans can return for Wednesday’s home National League South clash with Hemel Hempstead.