by ISAAC GLEAVE

Whitehawk will journey to sixth-placed Beckenham on Saturday well-rested following Tuesday’s heavy rainfall that postponed the Sussex Senior Cup clash between the Hawks and Newhaven.

Momentum remains strongly on their side after a hard-fought, pulsating affair on Saturday against Hythe Town saw Shaun Saunders’ side extend their unbeaten streak in the league to twelve matches - the only side in the division yet to fall to defeat.

On paper this looked like another fine opportunity for three points. The visitors travelled from the Kent coastline winless on the road since September 20, yet they proved a stern test for a free-flowing, fluid Whitehawk side that have won all but one of their home fixtures in the league this season.

Joe Shelley’s tenth goal of the campaign handed his Hawks a half-time lead after a superb header in the box soared over the head of Steve Phillips.

From there the hosts set out to seize control. Shelley had a header hacked off the line before Kai Brown saw a shot well-saved, but Hythe were still in it right up until the final moments as Joel Daly concluded the afternoon with a fine solo goal.

“We were in control of our destiny,” Saunders said. “We had another couple of chances we could’ve done better with, but we defended really well again and that’s been the catalyst for where we are at the moment.”