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Dec. 15th, 2008 11:32 pmTo Westleigh Park this evening for the Hawks' FA Trophy match with Bury Town, re-arranged from Saturday. Being a cold Monday night, facing a team two divisions lower, and with the way Hawks have been playing lately, this was one for the true hardcore supporters. I met Steph in the queue for the tea bar, and had the pleasure of her sitting in the row in front of me, just a couple of seats to the side, tonight.
Bury have giant-killed three teams from our division in cup ties this season; with that and Hawks' current form none of our fans were over-optimistic about tonight, and when, in the 13th minute, a Bury midfielder scored a well-taken goal, us becoming their Blue Square South scalp number four was looking a distinct possibility. To do the Hawk hardcore behind the goal credit, they kept up a barrage of noise the whole time. On 25 minutes we got a free kick just outside the box and Jamie Collins appeared to shoot straight into the net. A few of the guys around me wondered whether that was legal from what they thought was an indirect free kick, but the referee had awarded a goal and that was all anyone cared about.
The teams came off at half time to a lukewarm reception from the crowd, though the verdict of Ken, the guy who sits behind me, that "It's like watching paint dry, only less exciting" was a touch harsh.
Hawks came out fighting after the break, and were rewarded with two goals from a hard-working Craig Watkins, one soon after the restart from a Charlie Henry cross, and later a third created by Steve Walker. Announcing this goal, Trev added that it had been confirmed that Craig had got the decisive touch on the first goal (which explained why it counted from an indirect free kick), thus completing his hat trick. Hawks held on for a 3-1 win.
Near the end, the referee went down with a leg injury, and despite the attentions of Grace our physio he had to come off. Most of us expected one of the linesmen to take over, with the fourth official running the line, but when the fourth official went to the touchline to remove his jacket and reveal his referee's kit Trev announced that the fourth official was taking over as ref. One of the older guys in front of me cheerfully called out "You were hoping to get your whistle out, weren't you, lino? Awww," to the linesman who'd stood watching while the ref was treated. When I said to everyone around me "shouldn't one of the linos have taken over?" Trev said the fourth official is there to be substitute ref.
At full time there was jubilation all round that we'd finally seen Hawks win a match. Never mind that it was against lower league opposition, any win will do us fine right now...
Bury have giant-killed three teams from our division in cup ties this season; with that and Hawks' current form none of our fans were over-optimistic about tonight, and when, in the 13th minute, a Bury midfielder scored a well-taken goal, us becoming their Blue Square South scalp number four was looking a distinct possibility. To do the Hawk hardcore behind the goal credit, they kept up a barrage of noise the whole time. On 25 minutes we got a free kick just outside the box and Jamie Collins appeared to shoot straight into the net. A few of the guys around me wondered whether that was legal from what they thought was an indirect free kick, but the referee had awarded a goal and that was all anyone cared about.
The teams came off at half time to a lukewarm reception from the crowd, though the verdict of Ken, the guy who sits behind me, that "It's like watching paint dry, only less exciting" was a touch harsh.
Hawks came out fighting after the break, and were rewarded with two goals from a hard-working Craig Watkins, one soon after the restart from a Charlie Henry cross, and later a third created by Steve Walker. Announcing this goal, Trev added that it had been confirmed that Craig had got the decisive touch on the first goal (which explained why it counted from an indirect free kick), thus completing his hat trick. Hawks held on for a 3-1 win.
Near the end, the referee went down with a leg injury, and despite the attentions of Grace our physio he had to come off. Most of us expected one of the linesmen to take over, with the fourth official running the line, but when the fourth official went to the touchline to remove his jacket and reveal his referee's kit Trev announced that the fourth official was taking over as ref. One of the older guys in front of me cheerfully called out "You were hoping to get your whistle out, weren't you, lino? Awww," to the linesman who'd stood watching while the ref was treated. When I said to everyone around me "shouldn't one of the linos have taken over?" Trev said the fourth official is there to be substitute ref.
At full time there was jubilation all round that we'd finally seen Hawks win a match. Never mind that it was against lower league opposition, any win will do us fine right now...
