Prime went into the game in confident mood after last week's big win over FC Revolution - and were keen to avenge last month's cup defeat to the Hawks at Hawkenbury. Prime made only one change to the starting lineup with Williams absent. Buckland came in at right-back with Mazurkiewicz moved into the centre. Cary, Davis, Fleming and Goldsmith made up the bench.

Hawkenbury had signed on 3 emergency players including 2 former semi-pro players from Scotland to bolster their ranks.

It was a very even start, with Prime knocking the ball around well and looking threatening down the left with Sykes and Henshall linking up well. There were also early warning signs for the Prime back 4 as the newly signed Hawks striker fizzed a shot just wide after 5 minutes after turning inside Buckland.

Hawkenbury took the lead on 20 minutes when a long diagonal ball was flicked on and their striker smashed the ball beyond Balcombe and into the net.

Suddenly the visitors were winning every header and seemed hungrier for the win and Balcombe had to be on his toes to keep Prime in the game.

Prime started to get back into the game with Betts and Henshall putting in some dangerous crosses and Senior's drive going narrowly wide.

Hawkenbury looked dangerous coming forward though, with their left-winger giving Buckland a torrid time.

With 5 minutes to go until the break, Sykes pulled up with a thigh strain as he hammered clear. Davis was immediately sent on at left-back and he had a hand in Prime's equaliser before the break. His quick throw in found Abu in space just inside his own half. His searching diagonal ball was expertly flicked on by Betts and Barker finished with all of the confidence of a man who scored 4 goals last week, to haul Prime level.

At the interval, Cary replaced Buckland, with Mazurkiewicz switched over to right-back to counter Hawkenbury's dangerous winger.

Prime started the second half with their tails up and took the lead 10 minutes into the half when Ferguson's excellent through-ball sent Barker clear and again, he made no mistake with the one-on-one.

The game turned on the hour mark. With Seb Fleming about to make his entrance as a sub, Prime keeper Balcombe went down with a pulled hamstring. Cary managed to clear the danger as Hawkenbury tried to force the ball into an unguarded net. With regular back-up keeper Sykes also off injured, Goldsmith dug out the spare keeper's kit and jogged on to fill the void.

Goldsmith's plea for his defence to "stop all shots" seemed to fall on deaf ears as Hawkenbury's Scottish striker cut through the Prime defence, but Goldsmith managed to parry his fierce drive over the bar.

Within 5 minutes though Hawkenbury levelled in bizarre circumstances as a long through-ball was met on the volley on the D of his own box by Walker. The ball flew up 20 yards into the air and somehow landed in the Prime net, with Goldsmith stranded.

Prime dusted themselves off and after Mazurkiewicz and Betts linked up down the right, Henshall was on hand at the far post to prod home into an empty net to put themselves back in front.

Goldsmith was nearly embarrassed when he tried to kill a few seconds after a long ball through fell harmlessly for him. He picked the ball up just as the challenge from the Hawks striker came in to roll the ball into the net - fortunately referee Delves rightly ruled that he had kicked it out of Goldsmith's hands.

It wasn't long though before Hawkenbury were level. Goldsmith parried a shot, but Hawkenbury's left winger turned the ball into the net after seemingly coming from an offside position. Fleming's flag went up, but Delves - perhaps looking to even things up - gave the goal.

Apart from Barker, Prime were now running on empty and with 5 minutes to go, Hawkenbury sealed the win when a deep corner was headed in at the far post with Prime appealing that the ball had curled out of play.

All in all it was a frustrating day for The Numbers and for the second time this season, luck was not on their side against the Hawks. The chance for revenge comes quickly as the sides clash at Hawkenbury next weekend in what should be another entertaining encounter.