McCarthy and Wall at the double in cup win
Midfielder Jake McCarthy scored twice and grabbed an assist as Hawks recorded a 5-3 FA Cup second round qualifying victory over Southern League Premier South Beaconsfield.
McCarthy, a summer signing from National League Weymouth, bagged his first goals for the club with two strikes in the space of 16 first half minutes.
The 25-year-old then teed up two-goal striker Alex Wall for his second in Hawks' victory against Gosport’s Southern League Premier South rivals.
Hawks’ other goal came from James Roberts a minute from time while things were made a little more tense than they should have in the closing stages with Joe Newton’s own oal and Tyrone Lewthwaite heading home.
But National League South
Hawks saw it through and can now look forward to today’s third round qualifying draw.
Hawks made four changes from the side who were beaten at home by Oxford City last time out. Wall, Billy Clifford, Oscar Gobern and Abdulai Baggie all came in for Paul Rooney, Manny Adebowale, Tommy Wright and Scott Rendell.
Hawks made a bright start but were nearly caught out after 16 minutes. obern wasG dispossessed by Aaron Minhas who then found Lewthwaite. He was then taken out by Joe Oastler but, with Beaconsfield calling for the defender to be dismissed, referee Michael Ryan brandished only a yellow card.
Having survived that scare, Hawks who took the lead on 24 minutes. Full-back Josh Passley drove forward down the right and picked out an unmarked McCarthy in the area, who cooly slotted past Alex Tokarcyzk.
The tie really came to life in an eventful end to the first half. First, McCarthy grabbed his second with another tidy finish after 40 minutes following good work from Roberts to take the ball off Oliver Sprague then finding his team-mate.
Back came Beaconsfield, though, with Minhas’ deflected strike beating Ross Worner just two minutes later.
Striker Wall would restore Hawks' two-goal cushion before the break. Newton's clever dinked pass put the towering forward through and he curled a shot into the top corner.
Midfielder McCarthy should have completed his hat-trick after a quiet start to the second half. Clifford's pinpoint cross picked him out, although he could only glance his header wide on 59 minutes.
Hawks' fourth did arrive three minutes later, McCarthy’s cross finding Wall to tuck home his second from close range.
Beaconsfield were handed a lifeline through Newton's bizarre own goal six minutes from time - passing a cross back into his own net.
Hawks added a fifth through Roberts a minute from time while Lewthwaite headed home 60 seconds later in what a lively end to the tie.
It was only the third time
Hawks had scored five in an FA Cup tie - after Hampton (1998/99) and Highworth (2016/17).
Hawks: Worner; Passley, Magri, Oastler, Newton, Gobern, Roberts, Clifford, McCarthy, Baggie, Wall. Subs: Wright (Wall, 66), Adebowale (Oastler, 70), Rendell (Gobern, 75), Searle, Rooney.