After last week’s six-goal statement in Horsham, the Men’s 1s travelled to Croydon with renewed confidence and a familiar face back in the fold. Captain Matt Chappell returned to the lineup, and with it came a wave of expectation. The team thrived in Horsham in his absence, so it was on Chappell to show he could still lead from the front.

It didn’t take long for the Hawks to find their rhythm. Joe Jones opened the scoring in the fifth minute, proving that if a DPD van and a Lime bike can't take him down, the Croydon defence wouldn't stand much of a chance either. Ten minutes later, Nick Browning doubled the lead with a trademark finish, and Ben Gibbons made it three before the half-hour mark.

Then came Chappell’s moment. With 2 assists already, a sharp turn in the D, and a cool finish into the bottom corner opened his account for the season. Redemption in motion. But just minutes later, drama struck. Croydon’s goalkeeper, clearly rattled, lashed out with a cheap shot that left Chappell floored and earned him a ten-minute rest on the sidelines. The resulting flick looked destined to be the skippers second, but a defender, face mask on, knees knocking, denied him on the line. A moment that probably cost him Player of the Match, in what was otherwise a faultless display.

Still, the Hawks didn’t flinch. Browning grabbed his second shortly after, and Harvey Nelson added a sixth with a tidy finish. Chappell, undeterred, capped off the scoring in the 65th minute with another composed strike, sealing a 7–1 win and silencing any lingering doubts.

After the match, for the second game on the bounce we spoke to Player of the Match, Nick Browning. “Matt’s response today was class. Took a hit, kept going, and led by example. You can see what we’re building here. Two away wins, 13 goals, and a squad that’s clicking.”

The Hawks are flying. And with their captain back in the side, and the best goal difference in the league, something is building...