The Hawks’ second game of 2021 ended in defeat as a goal either side of the break ensured Eastbourne would leave the Draper Tools Community Stadium with the three points.

Whilst Bedsente Gomis levelled proceedings just shy of the hour mark, Paul Doswell’s men couldn’t react again when they went behind nearly 10 minutes later.

The visitors thought they had taken an early lead when Greg Luer found Chris Whelpdale unmarked in the Hawks box. The striker headed the ball back across goal and into the corner, only for the linesman to raise his flag and rule it out.

It was Eastbourne to strike first just past the half hour mark, good work from Luer down the left, flashed the ball across the face of goal which Whelpdale met to tap in from close range.

The away side should have doubled their advantage moments later when they sprung a counter attack through Charlie Kendall. The midfielder went alone, drawing a good stop from Ross Worner only for the ball to fall to substitute Charlie Lambert, who smashed his effort off the crossbar and over.

Lambert almost made up for his miss five minutes before the break when Whelpdale slipped him in down the right. This time he sent a low drive across goal which needed dealing with by Worner who pushed it to safety.

HT – HAWKS 0 Eastbourne 1

The Hawks were brighter after the restart and got their equaliser through Bedente Gomis. Good link up play between Danny Kedwell and Tommy Wright to get into the penalty area before pulling the ball to the incoming Gomis who side-footed the ball past Franco Ravizolli in the Eastbourne goal.

The two teams weren’t on level terms for long as Eastbourne regained the lead less than 10 minutes later through the in-form Whelpdale. Huer picked the ball up on the right side of the penalty area before scooping his cross into the path of Whelpdale who did brilliantly to loop his header up and into the net leaving Worner rooted to the spot.

Whelpdale should have wrapped things up with just over 10 minutes to play when he went one on one with Worner inside the penalty area. The Hawks keeper did well to make himself big and smother the ball away to safety.

It looked as though the Hawks would steal a point at the death when the ball fell to Kedwell six yards out following a Moussa Diarra flick-on. But the Eastbourne defence stood firm and held on for the three points.

A disappointing day at the office for the Hawks who will look to bounce back at Bath City on Tuesday night.

FT – HAWKS 1 Eastbourne 2

Starting XI – Worner, Straker, Poku(c), Diarra, Taylor, Rowe, Robson, Gomis, Wright, Deacon, Chambers-Parrilon 

Subs used – Kedwell, Ajakaiye, Iaciofano

Subs not used – Lee, Clifford

By Ryan Honey (@ryanhoney9)