Away the lads – how Hawks were on course to emulate Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’

When the National League South season was halted, Paul Doswell’s men possessed the only undefeated away league record in the top six tiers of English football.

Indeed, they were on course to become the first club in the top six tiers to go an entire away league season unbeaten since Arsenal in 2003/04.

Hawks - three points adrift of leaders Wealdstone, having played a game more - had won 11 and drawn six of their 17 away games, and only had trips to Bath City, Welling, Eastbourne Borough and Chelmsford to come.

To go 17 away league games is impressive enough, but Hawks have shown great character as well. In nine of those matches, the have come from behind to grab points - five times recovering to win.

Here, The News takes a closer look at a record that Doswell is desperately hoping Hawks get the chance to extend.

He has already gone on record as saying he believes the 2019/20 NLS season MUST be finished at whatever cost - even if it means restarting in June or July.

Hampton & Richmond 3 Hawks 4

August 6

Hawks were staring down the barrel of defeat in their very first league game of the season.

They trailed 3-1 after Roarie Deacon had given the visitors a second minute lead, but hit back to take all three points with three goals in the final half-hour.

Wes Fogden started the comeback before Jonah Ayunga opened his goal account for the season with two goals in quick succession.

The winning goal owed much to Fogden’s perseverance. With the ball heading towards the deadball line, he managed to keep it in play and in acres of space had the opportunity to knock the ball across to Ayunga who netted from 12 yards.

Dartford 1 Hawks 1

August 10

Jonah Ayunga scored his third goal in five days as Hawks came from behind to grab a point.

Dartford took the lead late into the first half thanks to Adam Cunnington’s strike, with Ayunga levelling on 66 minutes.

Tonbridge 1 Hawks 3

August 24

For the third away game running, Hawks had to come from behind. After conceding in the second minute to Tom Hession-Harris at Longmead, Paul Doswell’s men led 3-1 at the interval thanks to goals from Jonah Ayunga, Nicky Bailey and Andy Drury.

Oxford City 0 Hawks 3

August 31

Alfie Rutherford opened the scoring at Marsh Lane after only three minutes in before Roarie Deacon struck a brilliant curling effort midway through the opening period.

Wes Fogden added a third five minutes after the interval as the Hawks grabbed a third away league win in four matches.

Maidstone 2 Hawks 2

September 7

Dan Wishart struck a stoppage-time leveller to deny Hawks another away win at the Gallagher Stadium.

The Stones led at half-time before Anthony Straker levelled from the penalty spot and sub Danny Kedwell scored with his first touch seven minutes from time.

Wealdstone 1 Hawks 4

September 28

Yet again, Hawks came from behind to preserve their unbeaten away run and cut the gap on leaders Wealdstone to seven points.

After Ross Lafeyette had put the hosts ahead, Jonah Ayunga and Andy Drury struck to turn the deficit around before the interval.

Alfie Rutherford and a Danny Kedwell penalty eased Hawks to what would prove to be their highest away league win of the season.

St Albans 1 Hawks 3

November 2

Jonah Ayunga scored a brace and Ross Worner saved a penalty as the Hawks claimed another away win at Clarence Park.

Ayunga struck in both halves whilst Worner kept out a spot-kick late on to deny a grandstand finish in Hertfordshire.

Danny Kedwell blasted a penalty home just before the interval to give Hawks a 2-0 lead at the break.

Braintree 3 Hawks 3

December 21

Hawks again came from behind to lead in Essex, before conceding a stoppage time leveller in a six-goal thriller.

Alfie Rutherford’s 89th minute strike looked to have given Hawks a dramatic victory, but Rhys Murrell Williamson pounced to give the hosts a point.

After Billericay opened the scoring, Jonah Ayunga levelled before half-time and Josh Taylor fired them in front midway through the second period.

Murrell Williamson grabbed his first leveller for the Iron with just six minutes left.

Rutherford, though, restored Hawks’ lead before Murrell Williamson struck his second in the fifth minute of added time.

Hungerford 1 Hawks 3

December 28

Three first half strikes gave Hawks victory over their lowly hosts at Bulpit Lane.

Alfie Rutherford, Danny Kedwell and Wes Fogden had wrapped the game up by half-time with the Crusaders only managing a last-minute consolation by James Rusby.

Weymouth 0 Hawks 1

January 1

Simon Walton’s first Hawks goal secured a vital win at promotion rivals Weymouth at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Hawks were also indebted to keeper Ross Worner, for an 85th minute penalty save from Jake McCarthy - his fourth spot-kick save of the season.

Hemel Hempstead 1 Hawks 2

January 11

Former Pompey centre half Sam Magri gave Hawks a half-time lead at Vauxhall Road against a Hemel side who had beaten them at home in October.

Danny Kedwell doubled the lead from the penalty spot before Jack Midson netted a consolation for Hemel.

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Hawks 3

January 21

Hawks scored three times in a blistering final 15-minute spell to run out winners at Champion Hill.

After Danny Kedwell had missed a first half penalty, the hosts went ahead through Danny Mills.

Sam Magri levelled on 76 minutes from Hawks’ second penalty of the evening, and they went ahead six minutes later through Bradley Tarbuck.

Alfie Rutherford slotted home the third in the 90th minute.

Chippenham 0 Hawks 0

January 25

Hawks hit the woodwork six times as they failed to break down a stubborn Chippenham defence at Hardenhuish Park.

It was the first away league game of the season in which Hawks had failed to score, with the Wiltshire club starting the day second from bottom.

Concord 0 Hawks 0

February 1

A week later, and it was deja vu as Hawks were again held to a goalless stalemate - this time on Canvey Island.

Midfielder Bedsente Gomis was handed his Hawks debut in a game of few clear chances.

Slough 1 Hawks 1

February 15

Another game where the Hawks had to come from behind to preserve their unbeaten away league record. After fellow promotion hopefuls Slough had taken a half-time lead at Arbour Park, Jonah Ayunga levelled from close range on 65 minutes.

Billericay 0 Hawks 1

March 2

A first half screamer from top scorer Jonah Ayunga was enough to end the home side’s seasonal unbeaten home league run at New Lodge.

Dorking 1 Hawks 2

March 15

Yet another come from behind win, after ex-Hawk Jason Prior had fired Dorking in front.

Sam Magri missed a penalty - the fifth Hawks player to fail from 12 yards this season - before Nicky Bailey grabbed a 59th minute equaliser.

Centre half Dean Beckwith snatched victory in the closing seconds of what could yet prove to be Hawks’ last game of the season.