Hawks have good reasons to cheer

Leaders Whitehawk were celebrating even before the start of their home game against Bognor after their ground at East Brighton Park achieved the necessary grading for Conference South.

And the party continued with a 3-0 Hawks victory which extended their lead over second-placed Wealdstone to 11 points.

James Fraser and Joe Keehan netted first-half goals, with Charlie Henry adding the third midway through the second half.

Although Wealdstone have four games in hand and Lowestoft, 16 points behind, no fewer than seven, Hawks are entitled to believe that the points on the board are worth more than those extra games, especially as they themselves have a relaxing run-up, being the only team in the league with as few as five matches left.

But for a warning from history Whitehawk need only go back to 1984, when they were tenth in the Sussex County League table in mid-March, 27 points behind leaders Steyning with ten games in hand. Littlehampton, at the same stage, were just 12 points off the pace with eight games in hand.

It was no surprise that Littlehampton reeled in and passed Steyning – but they had to settle for the runners-up berth as Whitehawk made light of their fixture congestion, unleashed an incredible run of 16 straight wins and took the title with three points to spare.

Canvey, who started the day in fifth place, made the short trip to East Thurrock and were beaten 2-0 by John Coventry’s men.

James Lawson opened the scoring in the 12th minute and a stunning volley by Sam Higgins (pictured by Mikey Cartwright) added the insurance with 17 minutes left as the islanders slipped out of the play-off places.

Their spot was taken by Margate, who beat lowly Thurrock 3-1 in east Kent. Kezie Ibe put them ahead on 19 minutes and Tommy Whitnell made it 2-0 right on half-time.

Lewwis Spence replied nine minutes after the interval but Ibe clinched the points with his second 11 minutes from time. Margate are now two points ahead of Canvey, both having eight games left.

There was one game in Ryman South and it was decorated by Ian Pulman’s first-half hat-trick as Ramsgate reclaimed a play-off position with a 3-1 home win over Herne Bay.

Pulman’s goals came in the eighth, 19th and 41st minutes, leaving Herne Bay the consolation of a Sam Bewick penalty with 14 minutes left.