Slew 37
HAVANT & W’VILLE 2
Adebowale 23, Wall 90
IN A very keenly contested encounter the Hawks scored late to secure the win their overall performance deserved.
With the points set to be shared it was Alex Wall on hand to score the late winner to break Hampton hearts.
It could have been a much different story had Hampton converted a 79th-minute penalty but Jorome Slew, so clinical earlier, sent his spot kick high and wide.
The final whistle saw Hawks fans and players celebrating in the sunshine, maximum points meaning their tag as pre-season favourites looks fully justified and if you’re thinking of backing them, check out this bet365 bonus code.
Hampton’s players and fans painted a contrasting picture from last week’s five-goal win, underlining that it’s their away form rather than home performances that has tended to yield their points.
Hawks manager Paul Doswell said: “A draw would have been about right… in the first half we were very dominant but in the second half I thought they were on top. Both teams competed really well.”
Hampton manager Gary McCann insisted: “I think we gave Havant too much respect in the first half.”
This was a hard-fought match with the foul count underlining each team’s competitive nature. The game was never dirty but especially in the first half the number of free-kicks prevented a free-flowing match.
The Hawks dominated all bar a few minutes of the first 45 and they would have been disappointed to come in all square. A crisp finish from Hampton’s Jerome Slew on 37 minutes was one of only three first half shots they created and cancelled out an equally smart goal from Havant’s defensive rock Manny Adebowale.
The towering Havant defender found himself free in the box as Hampton appealed for offside and his neat finish across Julian in the Hampton goal was as smart as his clearances at the other end were effective.
Until the final ten minutes the second half was a very quiet affair with far fewer free-kicks and little for either keeper to worry about. While Havant continued to get shots away, they landed well wide of the Beavers’ goal and all concerned were thinking a draw the likely outcome. That was until the 78th minute when David Fisher was felled by Ross Worner in a one-on-one situation. The penalty was ‘nailed on’ but the lack of card, yellow or red, for the Hawks’ keeper was a surprise to almost everyone. With the spot kick dispatched into the stands, Worner’s continued presence was academic.
With added time approaching, Havant pressed forward with substitute Abdel Baggie making inroads down Havant’s left. The pressure saw the Hawks win their tenth corner and while Alan Julian produced a stunning save to deny a point blank header, substitute Wall was there to ensure the three points were on their way down the A3 along with some very happy Havant fans.
HAMPTON: (4-4-2): Julian 7; Cox 6, Donaldson 6, Inman 6, Wassmer 7; Rodney 6, Gray 7, Gondoh 6 (Barzey 70, 6), Fisher 6 (Minhas 90); Daniel 6 (Brown 90), Slew 6. Subs not used: Anderson, Hutchens.
HAVANT: (3-5-2): Worner 6; Oastler 6, Green 6, McCarthy 8; Clifford 6, Newton 6, Adebowale 8, Gobern 6, Rendall 6 (Wall 70); Wright 7, Roberts 7 (Baggie 68) Subs not used: Searle, Rooney, Passley
STAR MAN: Manny Adebowale (Havant)
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★☆☆
