Baggie brace moves Hawks into top six
Winger grabs first goals for the club in entertaining home draw
Abdulai Baggie grabbed his first Hawks goals in an entertaining National League South stalemate with fellow play-off hopefuls Dulwich Hamlet.
Both sides would have gone third had they picked up a victory at Westleigh Park, but as it was a 2-2 draw lifted Dulwich into fourth spot and Hawks into sixth.
Hawks twice came from behind to stretch their unbeaten league run to six games, with all four goals coming in the first half.
It was again end to end stuff in the second period, though clear cut chances were far fewer as Dulwich comfortably held on despite playing the final 13 minutes a man short after sub Chike Kandi was sent off for retaliation.
Hawks boss Paul Doswell named an unchanged starting XI from the weekend’s FA Trophy loss at Slough which, due to injuries, was no surprise.
Dulwich started on the front foot with Danny Mills - once a target for Lee Bradbury during his time as Hawks boss - shooting wide on three minutes and heading wide two minutes later.
It was Mills who duly opened the scoring on 12 minutes, latching onto a cross from left wing-back Andre Blackman and steering a close range shot past Will Mannion.
Hawks levelled on 24 minutes through the collector’s item of a Baggie header - the shortest player in the home team getting in front of a defender and flicking a Roberts cross over stranded keeper Charlie Grainger.
Hawks now had their tails up, and looked the more likely to grab a second goal. But just before the interval, Joe Newton was penalised for a foul on Jack Holland - Hawks having missed the chance to clear a set piece - and Jordan Green casually converted the spot-kick.
Shortly after the fourth official had held up the board to indicate two added minutes, Baggie levelled for a second time.
Billy Clifford did the hard work, gaining possession and playing the winger in. Baggie, on the right side of the penalty area, had time to take a touch before rifling a shot past Grainger.
These were rare goals - Baggie had only scored once in 20 National League appearances for Eastleigh last season!
Hawks started the second half on top, Clifford seeing a half-volley pushed behind for a corner by Grainger.
Shortly after, skipper Joe Oastler got on the end of a far post corner but couldn’t direct a header on target.
Hawks would not get many clearer chances in a fairly even second period which swung from end to end.
Tyrone Sterling’s shot was deflected over for a Dulwich corner, while at the other end Baggie advanced into the penalty area but saw a shot blocked by a defender.
Dulwich made their first sub on 75 minutes, introducing Kandi. But eight minutes later Kandi was trudging off after receiving a red card for retaliation on Clifford.
Tommy Wright was closest to a Hawks winner, Grainger saving a close range shot, but overall the draw was the fairest result.
There was six minutes of added time, but Hawks never really threatened a winner which would have been very harsh on Dulwich.
Dulwich:
Hawks player coach Jamie Collins insisted the crowd of 983 got value for money.
‘For the neutral it was a great game to watch, it was like a basketball game going one way and then the other,’ he remarked.
‘We were obviously hoping to win before the game, we had the best two chances in the second half, but a draw was the fairest result.
‘They’re a good side, they have some dangerous players in attack.
‘They went down to 10 men, but they still kept two up front, they still wanted to win it.’
1. GK: David James
David James was a much-loved figure in PO4 and spent four memorable years at the club. James moved onto Bristol City in 2010 before spells at AFC Bournemouth, IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland and Kerala Blasters in India before retiring in 2014. James then had a brief spell as manager of the latter before being dismissed and now appears on BT Sport and Talksport as a pundit. Picture: John Walton.
2. RB: Glen Johnson
Johnson joined the club after a successful loan spell from Chelsea in 2006-07 and was an ever-present for the club before moving to Liverpool in 2009. The right-back lifted the FA Cup in 2008 and finished his career at Stoke
City following their relegation to the Championship in 2018. He is now focused on his ventures after establishing a property development business with his brother, and can also be found as a pundit for beIN sports, TalkSPORT and Sky Sports. Photo: Anthony Devlin/ PA Wire/Press Association Images.
3. CB: Younes Kaboul
Kaboul scored Pompey’s opening goal against Carlo Ancelotti’s side but his spell on the south coast was brief after following Harry Redknapp back to Spurs in 2010. The centre-back enjoyed five years at White Hart Lane before spells with Sunderland and Watford. After walking away from the game, Kaboul has opened his own care home for those with mental disabilities in Belgium. Photo: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire/Press Association Images
4. CB: Sylvain Distin
Distin grew in prominence during his stay on the south coast and became one of the Premier League’s best defenders. He eventually left for Everton in 2009 where he continued his strong form in defence. Distin then moved to AFC Bournemouth, where he now works as a strength and conditioning coach privately in Dorset. Photo: Daniel Hambury
5. LB: Nadir Belhadj
Belhadj signed permanently for Pompey after a successful loan spell from Lens in 2008. The left-back played over 50 times for Algeria and left for Al-Sadd in 2010 before brief spells for Al-Sailiya and Sedan - where he rejoined the latter in 2021 before his release earlier this month. Photo:Steve Reid
6. RM: Glen Little
Little failed to make a real impact at Fratton Park following impressive spells at Reading and Burnley. After his AC Milan appearance he was released at the end of the campaign and Little occasionally co-commentates on Blues fixtures for BBC Radio Solent. Photo: Dave Haines
7. CM: Papa Bouba Diop
Bouba Diop flourished at the 2002 World Cup and joined the Blues from Premier League counterparts Fulham before departing following relegation to the Championship in 2010. The midfielder had spells at AEK Athens, West
Ham United, and Birmingham before retiring. He sadly died in November 2020. Photo: Allan Hutchings
8. CM: Richard Hughes
Hughes enjoyed a nine year tenure on the south coast and was regularly dependable.
The midfielder hung up his boots in 2014 after a two year stint at AFC Bournemouth. before becoming technical director at the Cherries and maintained the role throughout the Premier League years at Dean Court. He also works as an occasional pundit for BT Sport and runs a restaurant in London with his brother. Photo: Allan Hutchings
9. LM: Armand Traore
The versatile Traore could operate down the left in a variety of roles which made him a useful asset for a number of clubs. He followed his loan spell in PO4 with spells at Juventus, QPR, and Cardiff to name a few. He was last seen playing for the Bluebirds in 2019 but was released at the end of the season and is still searching for a club. Photo: Steve Reid
10. ST: Peter Crouch
After leaving Pompey for Aston Villa earlier in his career, Crouch returned to PO4 as a Premier League and England favourite. He followed Redknapp to Spurs in 2009 where he spearheaded the Tottenham attack in the Champions League. He spent eight years at Stoke after his White Hart Lane spell before retiring after a short stay with Burnley. Crouch is now a TV personality and hosts his own podcast which has gained much success. During the first COVID wave that postponed EURO 2020, he hosted ‘Peter Crouch:
Save our summer’, on TV. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images
11. ST: Kanu
Kanu added his strike against AC Milan to his list of memorable Pompey goals. The former Arsenal man stayed in PO4 despite relegation to the Championship and retired in 2012. He has since set up his own charitable foundation for young African children with heart defects while being an ambassador for UNICEF. He also owns his own football club - Papilo FC Academy. Photo: Barry Zee
12. Arnold Mvuemba
Mvuemba’s stay at the club was brief as he failed to cement himself in the first-team picture at Pompey. He joined Umm Salal in Qatar via Lyon and Lorient before joining Roeselare in Belgium where he still plies his trade. Photo: Barry Zee
13. Sean Davis
Davis made over 100 appearances for the Blues after signing from Fulham. Unfortunately for the midfielder his career post Fratton Park was plagued with injuries throughout spells with Bolton and Bristol City before retiring. Since then, the midfielder has returned to Cravern Cottage as a columnist for the Whites website and is a commentator for their home matches. Photo: Daniel Hambury