Makeshift Hawks Show Real Team Spirit

<p>In the team talk before the game, all the Hawks were given a challenge. &nbsp;As we had a number of absentees for this league fixture, every player was asked to raise their game by 10%. &nbsp;That meant that you have to chase every lost cause, make the extra tackle, get in the way of a shot ... anything it takes. &nbsp;Today the boys were superb from back to front. &nbsp;The effort put in paid off and Hawks even managed to come out on top. &nbsp;Colebrook are a good strong team with some good players. &nbsp;They work hard, and pass well and look to work it out from the back. &nbsp;This was a challenge to the Hawks who had to set up with a combo of Bickles and Spelman at the back. &nbsp;The formation and tactics worked well in this one with a definite message of defending from the front. &nbsp;Sam Hobson led the line well and was very effective closing down and chasing lost causes. &nbsp;In the middle, Joshua Corcoran worked ever so hard and must have put in some serious KM today. &nbsp;Jesse Musson looked better in the second half with better positional awareness, whilst Davey Hirst won his battle in the middle. &nbsp;At the back, Jack Bickles was brave and Bobby Spelman did very well closing the ball down. &nbsp;Between the sticks, Edward Griffin made several worldies and certainly showed his value today.

<p>The first half was a close affair with Hawks maybe having a few more chances, but in terms of play, it was fairly even. &nbsp;Hawks drove forward at every opportunity and went close several times through Sam Hobson, whilst a Davey Hirst driving run from one end of the pitch to the other was thwarted at the last second. &nbsp;Joshua Corcoran went close with a drive from the left that fizzed across goal, whilst Colebrook went close following a failed clearance from Bobby Spelman (probably his only mistake in the game), however Hawks managed to keep it out. &nbsp;Edward Griffin made some very good stops and going into the break, the score was 0-0.

<p>The second half was again a very tight affair. &nbsp;In such games, its all about small margins and as such, Hawks came out on top. &nbsp;Hawks all worked their socks off and did the tough part of the game very well today. &nbsp;The teams were equal, but that desire to be first to the ball won it. &nbsp;Chasing, closing down and pressurising gave Hawks the edge as they restricted the opposition time on the ball. &nbsp;This was crucial. &nbsp;Sam Hobson went close several times with some neat turns and shots that he got away quickly. &nbsp;Most were half chances, however the striker was unlucky with a few that went very close. &nbsp;Indeed, one was cleared off the line when a Davey Hirst run and cross was hit by Hobson, half cleared and Joshua Corcoran put it just over. &nbsp;Hawks nicked it late on follwoing some neat passing on the edge of the box. &nbsp;This is pleasing as the triangles created here comes from much work in training. &nbsp;Jesse Musson then slid the killer pass to Joshua Corcoran who made no mistake firing low and hard into the bottom left hand corner. &nbsp;Hawks 1-0. &nbsp;That is the way it stayed as Hawks edged this close encounter.

<p>This was an excellent team performance that was a result of hard work both individually and for eachother despite a draining game the day before. &nbsp;All players stepped up, raised their game ... superb ... well done to all ... COYH

<p>Also, lastly, a big well done to Joe and Sam for hitting the 100 appearance mark.