Seven games ago, who would have thought we would have such an exciting clash this early on? The Hawks, who sit in second place, host first place Ebbsfleet United.
Both sides are unbeaten thus far, but Ebbsfleet have won all seven of their opening seven matches and they lead the Hawks by two points. They visit the Draper Tools Community Stadium after hosting Bath City. A Poleon brace put the Fleet 2-0 up. It was Hayfield to bring one back for the visitors but McQueen, in the 87th minute, secured all three points.
The Hawks, who have won six of their opening seven matches, continued that run on Saturday. They visited Chelmsford, who were third in the table and unbeaten. It was a dramatic 7-goal thriller. The sides went into the break all square at 2-2, all to play for in the second half. The Clarets fired first through a Jackson penalty but it didn’t take long for McCarthy to strike the Hawks level. Jason Prior popped up in the 85th minute and ensured the Hawks left Essex with three big points.
Paul Rooney is still out with an injury following the Farnborough match, Jake Andrews completed his loan move to Poole and Tomas Kalinauskas has joined the Hawks on loan from Barnsley.
The last time the two sides met, it was the Hawks that secured the victory. It was the win that was needed to get the Hawks going on a brilliant run towards the end of last season. It was Payne, Duku, Oastler and Clifford who scored in a fantastic 4-2 win.
It is going to be a fiery contest, with the winner, securing the top spot.
Written by Adam Nixon