The Hawks - Dare To Dream

Peru...interesting. Isn't Jefferson Farfan Peruvian?

Neal: Yes, yes he is

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With the season beginning to get into full swing now, the month of October would bring about another set of challenges for my players. Arguably though, the upcoming fixtures looked much easier than previous games this season, however complacency is not something I want to install in my players. It would still be tough to overcome these sides, and the added incentive of the F.A. Cup could potentially distract the team too, yet I was confident that our quality would still shine through.

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A good unbeaten run since the start of October has helped maintain our position in 3rd place in the league table, and continue our great start to the season. League leaders Luton are only 4 points above us currently, and considering our budget compared to that of the table toppers as well as the fact that they have just come down from League 2 while we have come up from the Conference South, we can be extremely proud with our efforts so far.

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Joe Oastler is the ‘Player of the Month’ for October, however, the decision surprisingly proved to be a difficult one despite an unbeaten month for the club. Oastler did prove to be the winner though with some very consistent displays which saw him make the right back berth his, for good, ahead of captain Ed Harris. Not only has the former Aldershot man been ever so reliable defensively, but he has also shown his capability to get forward and put in some dangerous crosses into the opposition box, coming at a bit of a surprise to me – but a pleasant one at that. His consistency has been a big thing which I have picked up on, and hopefully this is how it will remain for the 25 year old, for the rest of the campaign.

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Rashid Yussuff is the scorer of The Hawks’ ‘Goal of the Month’ for October, collecting the award for the second month running. Some excellent link-up and passing play was what split apart the opposition defence, and it was that man Yussuff who finished off the move in style, with a driven shot in the bottom corner and out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

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The perfect response to a loss? An unbeaten run, of course! Well, that’s exactly what we managed over the duration of October anyway, with 4 wins and 2 draws out of the 6 games we played. Luton and Bristol Rovers have already shown that they will be massively strong forces in the division this season, so a big positive is that we have managed to stay within touching distance of the two clubs, and really do look genuine challengers. We have also progressed into the F.A. Cup 1st Round, but face a tricky tie against League 1 side Stevenage, still it should be a great occasion – made even better if we could win that one as well.

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Last Update: A Not So Warm Welcoming
Next Update: Season Two: November

A fine month and you're making a good case for promotion alongside a few of the big boys. Early days yet, of course, but great development and character is being shown for a newly-promoted side.

Akinfenwa scoring in four straight #Legend

P-KIDDY: Yes, everything is looking very encouraging, thus far and we look more than capable of keeping up with the bigger clubs too. Promising times for The Hawks!

Neal: Haha, #Legend

Luton too good

You're doing well, but there are teams doing better and it's goin to be a really tight promotion fight, I can sense it. With that said, Akinfenwa will lead the way. Great updates, mun

Justice: Yep..

Icarus: Thanks mate, and yeah you're right, it's going to be a tightly close run battle for promotion. An in form Akinfenwa will go some way to helping us win games though!

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Things were looking all so rosy ahead of another month at West Leigh Park, and we were now finally starting to be recognized for the force we are, in this division. But could we really keep up with the big boys, as the stress of a long, hard and difficult promotion fight, begins to kick in? The added distraction of the FA Cup was another matter entirely, and would be likely to pile even more pressure onto my players. But that’s just football, and something the players are going to have to learn to deal with very quickly if we are to ever become a professional club – pressure is part and parcel of the game.

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As another month passes by the top 3 remains unchanged, showing just how fantastic our season has been going, in that we are still in touch with Luton and Bristol Rovers. In fact we are level on points with Rovers now, and just three behind The Hatters, while our advantage over Barnet is at 16 points – comfortably placing us in the playoff spots.

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Shamir Mullings wins the ‘Player of the Month’ award for November, proving to be a more than capable replacement for the injured Scott Donnelly, on the right side of our midfield. Yet again Bradley Bubb and Adebayo Akinfenwa’s goals proved critical in most of our wins however the service from Mullings has to be applauded, especially as not much was expected in terms of quality assists with the absence of Donnelly. Mullings also had a touch of class in front of goal, bagging two very important goals this month – one against Stevenage and the other a winner, against Dover. With Mullings’ excellent form it will be a struggle for Donnelly to even regain his spot in the side when he returns to full fitness, which is likely to make for an intriguing battle.

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‘Player of the Month’ winner Shamir Mullings picks up his second award for November, with the ‘Goal of the Month’ award following his other accolade. After initially playing a pass up the line for Adebayo Akinfenwa to run onto, the 22 year old made a dashing run onwards, smashing the ball past the goalkeeper first time as the ball was brilliantly fed back towards him; clinching the win for The Hawks, in style.

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And so, the run continues. 6 more games go by, and Havant remain unbeaten. It means that their stretch without a loss is extended to 12 matches now, and we keep up with the pace set by both Bristol Rovers and of course Luton. We could have easily come out of the month with a 100% record too, but for an unfortunate last gasp equalizer from Barnet, in the televised encounter at the start of the month. The main thing that sticks out though. Is our marvelous cup victory over Stevenage, who reside two divisions above us. We fell behind, and some teams would have caved in there, but we showed incredible character to fight back and set up a tie against Barnet in the 2nd round. Now that’s a game we are definitely capable of winning, and from then, who knows what’s next?

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Last Update: Season Two: October
Last Update: FA Cup has Hawks believing again

As good as Akinfenwa has obviously been, Bradley Bubb has also been in some top goalscoring form. You best not let Luton win the league

Stop winning, you're making me look bad!

Just caught up Joshie, and man, what a job you are doing! Amazing wins all round!

Awesome progress mate!
2nd Round of the FA Cup with a Vanarama Premier team is a hugh success!
Also a playoff spot should be guaranteed, if you continue like that!

Neal: I'll try my best, lol. Oh and yeah, Bubb scored 46 goals this season and is top scorer this season too, so he's alright

Justice: Hehe

Josh: Thanks a lot man!

TaroMisaki: Cheers buddy, a good cup run can have such a positive impact on a club like Havant.