An 83rd minute winner from Lucas Rodrigues was enough to move Whitehawk off the foot of the Bostik Premier League after a 1-0 win over Potters Bar Town.

The first half was uneventful to say the least with the only notable highlight coming at the very end of it with Lucas Rodrigues having a shot which was able to beat Scholars keeper Nik Tzanev, though was cleared off the line by debutant Omar Vassell.

The second half began with what was one of a rare chance from Potters Bar with Josh Hutchinson having a shot saved by a relatively untested Melvin Minter in the Hawks goal. Whitehawk then began to start to turn their dominance of the game into chances and it nearly paid off with Nathaniel Pinney scoring, only to have it ruled out because of a dubious offside decision. Captain Henry Muggeridge was next to step up for the Home side, but Town keeper Tzanev made an incredible save to deny him.

The breakthrough goal finally came 7 minutes from time, with a shot by Muggeridge being pushed away by Tzanev into the path of Rodrigues, who smashed home to the delight of most of the 307 in attendance and to take Whitehawk off the bottom and put them above Burgess Hill ahead of their meeting on Tuesday evening.

Hawks: Minter, Walsh, Goode, Ovenden (Ebuzoeme 73), Ambroisine, Christie, Rodrigues, Kissock (Emberson 90), Pinney, Muggeride ©, Tighe (Deda 81) – Subs Not Used: Cooklin, Watson

Scholars: Tzanev, Vassell, Lomas, Bonnett-Johnson, Budden, Grace ©, Cole (Morgan-Cummings 72), O’Leary, Hutchinson (Wynter 60), Sach, Ward-Cochrane (Owen 76) – Sub Not Used: Wynter

Goals: Rodrigues 83’ (Whitehawk)

Yellow Cards: Walsh, Ovenden, Christie, Pinney (Whitehawk); Grace, Sach, Wynter, Morgan-Cummings (Potters Bar)

Man of the Match – Lucas Rodrigues

Attendance – 307