The injury ravaged Hawks put aside their great league to one side for the week as they sought to be become cup giant killers. Tywford and Ruscombe who sit mid table in the league above were today’s visitors. The Hawks missing Kevin and Riley with long term injuries and Tommy ill started tentatively. The Hawks were under pressure straight away and struggled to clear their lines and a number of players hacked wildly at the ball. Jake, starting in an unfamiliar CDM role, saved the team early as he hacked a dangerous cross over his own bar. Jack and Michael struggled at first to get into the game in attack as the game descended into a midfield grind. Twyford exerted a lot of pressure in the first half and had numerous corners and long throws but failed to trouble Harry in goal. Chris, Harry A and Jasan were defending stoutly and putting their heads in where it hurt numerous times. With Taylor bossing midfield the Hawks began to play and create chances. Ewan sent Jake through but he blasted wide, Bobby then got to the by-line on the left and delivered a peach of a cross which Michael was inches away from converting. Jacob then ran through on goal but his heavy touch took the ball through to the keeper.
Harry R , despite having few saves to make, was sweeping up in his usual calm way. Even having time to come out of his box and dummy the defender before clearing. In the last action of the first half, Jake went clear on goal and was only thwarted by a superb save from the rangy Twyford keeper. Jake was virtually round the keeper when he stuck out a telescopic arm and nipped the ball of Jake’s toe. 0-0 at HT.
The Hawks changed their keeper at the break with Jasan going in between the sticks and Harry R pushing into midfield. Michael raced onto Jake’s flick and only a heavy touch denied him. The Hawks then briefly lost Jacob to a nasty knock on the ankle, with Gleb taking over on the wing. Jasan then had a rush of blood as he charged out of his goal to intercept a ball on the right. The striker beat him to the ball and Twyford hit the post, the rebound was smashed wide as the open goal stood gaping! Jasan quickly recovered his composure making a couple of sharp saves. Michael then had a great shot saved by the fingertips of the fully stretched Twyford keeper. Jake then sent a dangerous corner in which fell to Bobby at the far post. He beat his man and whipped in another great cross but no one could turn it in. Bobby was soon back in the thick of it as he chested down the ball and volleyed in a lovely cross which Michael couldn’t connect with. The tackles were now flying in and midfield was a real battle with Ewan, Tayor and Gleb working hard. Jacob was having the occasional foray down the wing but the ball was spending more time in the air than on the floor. Chris was marshalling Harry A and Harry R at the back and keeping chances to a minimum. Once again the Hawks had to dig deep, absorbing a lot pressure and set pieces but they held firm. Then came the turning point of the game with Jasan making a flying save and Harry A franticly clearing the rebound. With the game into the last 8 minutes the Hawks finally unlocked the stout Twyford back four and fittingly it fell to Michael. After running the channels and harassing defenders all day long he finally got his gilt edged chance. Taylor picked up the ball and played a lovely ball behind the defence which Michael sped onto. Michael showed great composure to slot the ball under the onrushing keeper to make it 1-0; players and fans alike went barmy.
The Hawks instantly switched to 4-5-1 to protect their lead with Taylor switching to right back. Twyford pushed forward for the last 5 minutes without creating anything clear cut. The Hawks could even have added to their lead as Jake fired over and then Jack sent a rebound wide. But the Hawks couldn’t care a less as they celebrated the final whistle and a home quarter final to look forward to in January. The end of the game was marred by a scuffle between the 2 teams at the end as tempers boiled over after a fantastic effort by both teams.
Heroes all over the pitch today, with Harry R and Jasan both having excellent halves in Goal. Chris and Harry A were rocks at the back, Jacob and Bobby ran tirelessly out wide. Gleb and Ewan battled through their injuries in the midfield battle and with Taylor everywhere just about held their own up against Twyford’s strong engine room. Jake and Jack ran hard and were both unlucky not to score. Michael was the match winner despite running himself into the ground for an hour; he still found the energy for one last run forward and a tidy finish.
The Hawks head into next week’s final game before Christmas in a very festive mood as they fight for top spot with Hearts of Teddlothian .
