Havant and Waterlooville face newly-promoted Southern Premier League side Farnborough in their third pre-season friendly of 2017. Lee Bradbury will be looking for a reaction from his side following the 6-0 home defeat to League 2 champions Portsmouth last weekend.
However they will be buoyed by the fact that Matt Tubbs could be set to make his bow for the Hawks after an injury has kept him out of the opening two pre-season games against Newport IOW and his former employers Pompey. It could be the first taste of a man who has plenty of pedigree in the Conference South despite his Football League success being a key string in the Salisbury team that ran away with the title back in 2007.
Hayato Yoshida, who’s appearances for the Hawks has been subject to plenty of attention will continue his trial for the Hawks against the seventh tier outfit tomorrow. When speaking previously Lee Bradbury said he was “A University (of Pompey) student who moved to the UK when he was 15, he wrote to me and I though I’d give him a look”.
Tubbs’ return could be a timely one as Farnborough head to Westleigh Park. A side that is buoyed with confidence following their promotion to the Southern Premier League last season defeating Barton Rovers 2-0 in the play-off final. The ‘Boro’ also posses a small contingent of former Hawks stars with Nic Ciardini and Josh Huggins to name a few in their ranks making a return to the fortress.
Their pre-season got off to a decent start last weekend as they beat local neighbours in Fleet Town 1-0 through a Conor Calcutt strike. Fleet Town also being the Hawks’ potential Hampshire Cup opponents in waiting.
INJURY NEWS:
Matt Tubbs as spoken about earlier is a hopeful to start against Farnborough but in other injury notes skipper Brian Stock is out with a rib injury which he sustained against Pompey in the early stages last Saturday. The 35 year old is likely to be out for a few weeks. Andreas Robinson is another player who will be absent for tomorrow’s encounter.
From the players out to the players returning and hawks legend Dan Strugnell is available to return after his injury and the good news is doubled as Jordan Rose is once again available for selection for Lee Bradbury.
LAST TIME OUT:
It’s been two and a half years since the Hawks and Farnborough last met. Back in February 2015 the Hawks defeated the ‘Boro 1-0 in the then-called Conference South with Ben Swallow on the score sheet for the Hawks at Westleigh Park.
TICKETS AND KICK-OFF TIME:
Tickets for the Westleigh Park encounter is £10 for Adults and £5 for Concessions. Kick-off for the game is 3pm with The Westleigh Pub open all day with refreshments served in the ground and the club shop open as normal.
If you cannot make the game there will be LIVE radio coverage on Hawks Radio from 2:50.
Henry Deacon Media 