Hawks suffer third successive National League South defeat for the first time in almost five years

In a game played in blizzard conditions at times, Paul Doswell’s side created few openings in a desperately disappointing 2-0 defeat at Hemel Hempstead.

It was the Tudors’ first home league win since last March, and ended a dismal record of just one point from their eight home National League South games in 2020/21 - the worst home record in ‘elite’ English football.

Hemel’s success completed a double over the Hawks, having previously won 3-2 at Westleigh Park in early December.

Lee Bircham’s men entered the game with the worst defensive record in the division, having shipped 37 goals in 16 games.

But they kept only their second league clean sheet of the campaign as Hawks failed to grab their first league points since beating Hungerford 4-2 on January 2.

It was Hemel’s first points, meanwhile, since their victory at Hawks, ending a four-match losing streak.

The visitors arrived on the back of an impressive showing in their FA Trophy penalty shoot-out loss to National Leaguers Notts County.

Doswell made just one change - Oxford United loanee Leon Chambers-Parillon replacing the injured Godfrey Poku in midfield.

For the eighth time in 13 league games this term, though, Hawks conceded the first goal - BJ Christie left with a tap in on 13 minutes.

In three of the previous seven games Hawks had conceded first - against Billericay, Dulwich and Oxford City - they hit back to win.

But they rarely looked capable of finding an equaliser, let alone a winner.

After Josh Taylor’s surging run from the halfway line was ended with a foul, Billy Clifford’s 30-yard free-kick was straight into the arms of keeper Nick Hayes.

Taylor and Bedsente Gomis were booked in quick succession before Hawks keeper Joe Tupper - again deputising for Ross Worner (shoulder injury) - produced a great stop from JJ Lacey’s close range shot.

Hawks used Tommy Wright as a lone striker but he was well marshalled by Kyle Ajayi and Nathan Cooper throughout.

Doswell failed to make any changes at half-time, but within nine minutes of the second half had thrown on all three substitutes in a bid to change the game.

He made a double change just three minutes after the restart, bringing on strikers Danny Kedwell and Joe Iaciafano for centre half Nico Jones and Chambers-Parillon.

Sam Magri went from right back to centre half, alongside skipper Craig Robson, with Roarie Deacon going to right back.

On 53 minutes, though, Hemel doubled their lead. A long ball went over Robson’s head in the right-hand channel and found Christie in space. He unselfishly crossed low across the six-yard box where Reggie Young was left with a simple tap-in.

Doswell’s response was to immediately introduce midfielder Christian Rowe in place of Gomis.

Kedwell saw a shot well saved by Hayes before his former Hawks colleague, Chris Paul, had an effort blocked by George McLennan.

Wright, given a rare sight at goal, blasted well over before Sami Carruthers twice missed good chances to add to the visitors’ agony.

First, he broke clear of the defence only to produce a poor chip as Tupper raced off his line.

Then, with virtually the last kick of the game, he fired a shot against the foot of a post.

It was Hawks’ third straight league loss following defeats last month to Eastbourne and Bath City.

The previous time they had lost three in a row in the sixth tier was in April 2016. The only time since then they had lost three was during their National League debut campaign in October 2018.

More worryingly, Hawks have now lost as many league games in 13 attempts this season - five - as they did in 34 matches in 2019/20.

This loss keeps them 14 points adrift of leaders Dartford with six games in hand, following the Darts’ home loss to Eastbourne.

But they are still 13 points behind second-placed Dorking Wanderers, and only have three games in hand.

This weekend’s home clash with Ebbsfleet, therefore, is one Hawks certainly need to win in order to reignite their promotion challenge.

Hawks: Tupper, McLennan, Magri, Robson, Jones (Iaciafano, 48), Clifford, Gomis (Rowe, 54), Chambers-Parillon (Kedwell, 48), Taylor, Deacon, Wright.