Doswell hails ‘professional performance’ as Hawks move into National League South play-off zone

Tommy Wright took his seasonal tally into double figures with a brace as Paul Doswell’s side collected an impressive 3-0 win at the Kuflink Stadium.

It was a successful debut therefore for new loanee midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillo, who had been signed the day before from Oxford United.

The 19-year-old was thrust straight into the starting line-up as Doswell fielded a 4-2-3-1 system with the loanee in a central role behind Tommy Wright with Roarie Deacon and Josh Taylor either side of him.

Danny Kedwell was left out of the side that had started the previous Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Slough with Anthony Straker coming back in at left-back for the suspended George Mclennan.

‘We said before the game we needed sevens and eights today from every player and I felt we got that,’ praised Doswell.

We knew how they would set up, we knew we could break against them.

‘We were braver on the ball than we have been, I thought we passed the ball better, quicker.

‘And with that front three of Deacon, Taylor and Wright we caused some problems today.

‘It was a professional performance I thought carried out to a tee.’

Hawks were forced into an early change when centre half Moussa Diarra went up for a header in the Ebbsfleet penalty area and landed awkwardly on nine minutes.

He was unable to recover and was replaced by Craig Robson.

There was another stoppage shortly after when one of the linesmen had to leave the pitch with an injury, to be replaced by Darren Welch, a member of the Hawks’ coaching staff.

Welch carried on holding the flag until half-time, but was not called upon to make any controversial decisions.

Hawks took the lead on 36 minutes. Taylor tapped a short free-kick to Deacon whose 25-yard shot was parried by Jordan Holmes and Robson netted the rebound.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 when, after good build-up play from Deacon and Taylor, Wright turned in the box to score from 10 yards.

Ebbsfleet had a chance shortly into the second half but striker Bobby-Joe Taylor, after breaking the offside trap, fired well over.

Wright wrapped up by the scoring just before the hour mark. Centre half Sam Magri cut out a pass in his own half and advanced up the pitch before sending Wright clear to net his fifth league goal in three games and his 10th in all competitions in 2020/21.

Hawks keeper Ross Worner was barely troubled after that as Hawks moved into seventh spot with games in hand on all the teams above them.

If they won those games in hand, they would only be behind leaders St Albans, who are 10 points ahead of Hawks having played only two games more.

Doswell was delighted with events at both ends of the pitch - more goals for Wright and a second successive clean sheet.

‘Tommy Wright was outstanding, his workrate for the team was outstanding. He could have had a hat-trick but that’s being a tad greedy,’ said the boss.

‘For me, keeping a clean sheet second half was important.

‘Craig Robson was also outstanding when he came on - we’ve got three great centre halves at the club.’