Havant report...

[Guest]

...from their local paper. As you can see they had quite a few players missing. The reality is we didn't go from being awful at Walton to being world-beaters yesterday.

 

"The Hawks suffered a miserable afternoon in the cold as they crashed to a 5-1 defeat against Margate at Homelands. After conceding two goals from corners, the Hawks got back into the game before the interval with a strike from Glenn Knight. But although the visitors improved at the start of the second period, two quick goals on the break killed off their hopes.

 

The Hawks’ plans were thrown into total chaos before kick off due to a serious accident earlier in the day which closed the M25. Not only did the visitors have to make a long detour along the south coast to avoid traffic problems, two of the Hawks’ regulars, goal keeper Gareth Howells and midfielder Jason Chewins, failed to appear before kick off.

 

Acting manager Shaun Gale also had to contend with the absence of leading goalscorer Dean Holdsworth (bronchitis), Gavin Holligan (virus) and Neil Sharp (foot injury). To make matters worse, reserve team keeper Emmet Peyton was violently ill in the changing rooms beforehand with a stomach bug.

 

Robbie Pethick had an early opportunity to launch a long throw into the area and when it was cleared straight back to him, he forced the keeper to go low to cut out his cross. The home side soon made most of the running though, and Hawks central defender Jamie Campbell had to make a couple of telling interceptions to prevent them taking advantage.

 

Midway through the half, Margate increased the pressure by forcing four corners in quick succession and making the final one count. Clarke swung the ball to the near post area where Peyton failed to gather and Rocky Baptiste turned the ball in from close range to give Margate a 25th minute lead.

 

The visiting defence were found wanting again on 36 minutes when Aaron Barnett pushed the ball home from inside the six yard box to make it 2-0. With their midfield failing to compete, it looked bleak for the Hawks, but they got themselves back in the game three minutes later with a wonder strike from Knight. The home side knocked the ball well clear of their area where it fell to Knight who rifled an incredible shot into the top corner from over 30 yards.

 

James Taylor almost got the Hawks level soon afterwards as he capitalised on a mistake from Hussein who spilled the ball inside his area.

 

Half-time

Margate 2

Havant and Waterlooville 1

 

The Hawks’ problems increased two minutes into the second half when they had goal scorer Knight stretchered off the pitch following an appalling challenge from Clarke. He was immediately replaced by Jamie Ford. That was costly too, as a quick ball forward put Baptiste in and, though Howells half managed to stop his shot, Che Stadhart galloped in to knock the ball home at the far post.

 

The Hawks were caught out again on 77 minutes as a quick move down the right ended with Stadhart tucking the ball past the diving Howells and into the far corner. And two minutes from time, Darren Watson galloped through a huge hole in the defence to place his shot past Howells."

[MargateFan]

Perhaps not, but give H & W some credit, missing players or no, they played a lot better than some of the teams I have seen this season, so you cannot take credit away from our win.

Also, their reporter is probably a bit partisan and is trying to salvage a bit of pride I reckon.

Plus, I would object to the appalling challenge tag they are hanging on Clarke's tackle. It certainly did not seem so by the referee's verdict, as no booking ensued, and from where I was I could not see anything untoward. He has never been a dirty player. Sometimes injuries occur through sheer bad luck.

[Cookie]

In the form we were in yesterday even their FULL team including Dean Holdsworth would have struggled to cope. We were majestic and we were more than worthy winners. To me the scoreline flattered them.

As for Clarkie's tackle it was just a 50/50 ball but the as usual their players make more out of it than there was. Besides their player's tackle on Che was much much worse and was, according to the laws of the game, a sending off offence and so he was lucky only to be yellow carded. The ref got that one completely wrong.

We deserved that win yesterday and in that vein of form even Grays would have been pushed to get anything from the game.

[Guest]

Looks like I was right after all....

[Cookie]

Right about what?