Yet another draw leaves Hawks’ play-off bid hanging by a thread
Hawks’ play-off hopes are virtually over following a fourth consecutive draw.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Oxford City has left Jamie Collins’ side six points outside the top seven in National League South with two games remaining.
Hawks must win away to relegation-threatened Concord Rangers on Thursday night and at home to Welling United on Saturday if they’re to stand any chance of sneaking into the play-off spots.
And even then they will be pinning their hopes on seventh-placed Worthing failing to pick up a point from their final two matches and sixthplaced St Albans City losing their last game.
Collins said: ‘While it’s mathematically there you’re always going to say you’ve got a chance, but I think if everyone’s honest it’s going to be very tough.’
Saturday’s point against third-placed Oxford was a decent result in isolation, yet with Hawks playing catchup on their play-off rivals, it wasn’t enough under the circumstances.
Alfie Potter came off the bench to give Oxford an 83rdminute lead, but Hawks hit back immediately through a 25-yard strike by substitute Mo Faal.
James Roberts was twice denied by home keeper Chris Haigh and Charlie Ruff had a shot cleared off the line as Hawks almost went on to win it.
Collins was full of praise for his players following a third 1-1 draw in a row.
He said: ‘I thought we fully deserved at least a point.
‘I can’t have asked for any more from the boys today.
You saw them at the end of the game all laying on their backs exhausted.
‘I said to them there “if you play like that, you’ll win more than you lose”.
‘Before the game I asked them to give me everything they’ve got and they did.
‘It was a great performance from us, but once again it’s another draw.
‘I thought we started very well and had two or three very good opportunities to start with.
‘Oxford got into the game. They had a lot of the ball, but didn’t really break us down. I thought the shape was superb.
‘Second half we knew we had to win and in the end it’s ended up like a basketball match. I thought we created the better chances and in the last 10 minutes we probably had three chances where you would expect to score.’