Hawkings 5 Pinta Kronenbourg 1

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (4)5[Chris Elliott, Mark, Stephen Woods 2, Iain Wilson] Pinta Kronenbourg (0)1

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Stephen Woods, Mark Gouldthorpe

A third consecutive victory was achieved despite having no substitutes, and although Pinta were a hard-working side, they were lacking in several key areas and offered little real threat to the good run of Hawkings.

Chris scored the opening goal and Mark made it 2-0 after a free-kick one-two with Stephen who added two goals himself before half time. Craig barely had a shot to save in the first half, as despite their high percentage ball possession, Pinta’s finishing was woeful.

Hawkings tired a little in the second half, although they still hit the post on two or three occasions and missed several other very straightforward chances before Chris and Mark combined to set up Iain for the fifth goal. Craig was busier this half, and although he was beaten when Iain blocked a long-range shot onto the post, it looked like he’d managed to get the elusive first clean sheet when a shot from wide found the corner of the net with barely two minutes remaining.

Hawkings 4 Own Goals and Gaffes 1

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1)4[Richard Molyneux, Chris Elliott 3] Own Goals and Gaffes (0)1

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Ric Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux, Mark Gouldethorpe

Against the league leaders, who before this game had a 100% record, a superbly-organised Hawkings’ finished with a comfortable victory. In a very tight first half, Richard M opened the scoring and Hawkings harried their opponents constantly to take overall control of the game.

As gaps began to appear in the Own Goals defence, Chris helped himself to a second half hat trick, the last coming after Iain took a quick free kick, and whenever Own Goals did get a sight of goal, they couldn’t get beyond Craig. Just as it looked as if they’d finally managed to keep a clean sheet, a shot into the corner with three minutes to go provided the only disappointing note of the evening.

Hawkings 6 Moss Lane 2

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (4)6[Richard Molyneux 3, Chris Elliott, Stephen Woods 2] Moss Lane (0)2

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Rick Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux, Mark Gouldthorpe

A well deserved first victory of the season against a side who had kept Hawkings scoreless on thier previous meeting. The entire squad were outstanding tonight, but things might have turned out differently had an early Moss Lane shot gone in instead of hitting the post.

By half time, Hawkings were 4-0 ahead, Richard M scoring the first two (the second after Iain set the ball up for him) and Stephen and Chris adding the others. In truth, there was very little between the teams, and both ‘keepers made some excellent stops.

Richard M made it 5-0 early in the second half, before Craig was finally beaten, though he did get a hand to the shot. Stephen made it 6-1, Iain was unfortunate to see a goal ruled out for encroaching in the area, and Moss Lane added a second late on to complete the scoring.

Hawkings 3 Walton Wanderers 5

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1)3[Richard Molyneux, Chris Elliott, Richard Elliott] Walton Wanderers (4)5

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Rick Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Molyneux

With the return of Craig Wilson in goal, and the luxury of having a sixth player due to the last minute arrival of Richard, Hawkings put their miserable winter season behind them with a performance that, although it didn’t result in victory, did bring back their enjoyment of the game.

The early stages of the game saw Walton always managing to get any fortune that was going, and when they led 4-0 just before half time it seemed Hawkings would go unrewarded for their efforts. But, instead of letting heads fall, Hawkings continued to press forward, and goals either side of half time by new player Richard and Chris Elliott began to worry Wanderers.

For most of the remainder of the game, only bad luck in front of goal prevented Hawkings narrowing the gap even further. Walton added a fifth, but the goal of the game was reserved for Hawkings. Craig made a fine stop, threw the ball three quarters of the pitch to Chris, whose first time pass found his brother Rick, and from his foot the ball shot into the top corner – from ‘keeper to net, barely a second passed. Hawkings came close twice more in the dying seconds, but a 3-5 defeat ranks as high as many of the victories the side has enjoyed over the last three years.