Havant and Waterlooville have progressed to the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup as they defeated Evo Stik South East side Hayes and Yeading 4-0 at the Skyex Community stadium.
Manager Lee Bradbury gave starts for Alfie Rutherford and Andreas Robinson with Lee Molyneaux making the bench after missing last week’s defeat due to work commitments.
From kick-off the Hawks had a couple of opportunities to try and get the opener as a couple of minutes in Jason Prior had a headed effort cleared off the line by the hosts. The second early chance would come four minutes later as Rory Williams played in Alfie Rutherford but failed to challenge Jack Smith in the Hayes goal. Before the 10 minute mark was up Havant tried to break the deadlock once more as a mele in the penalty area found Jordan Rose whose first effort is spilled by the goalkeeper with no one able to spot the ball with the referee blowing up for a foul on the goalkeeper.
It would take another 15 minutes for the Hawks to create another opportunity as Alfie Rutherford plays a exquisite ball into the Jason Prior but couldn’t find a connection with one seeing the Hawks going one goal to the good. Minutes later a Rory Williams free kick finds Jason Prior on the edge of the penalty area whose cross was cleared by the Hayes defence as far as Robinson who was then deemed to have fouled centre half Tommy Cooney. Seconds later it was the turn of Bradley Tarbuck to try and get the opener as he beat 4 defenders before his effort strays onto the side netting.
It would take 35 minutes for the hosts to have their first meaningful effort on goal as Duku’s free kick from the best part of 25 yards out forced a save out of hawks ‘keeper Ryan Young.
And just before the half time break the Hawks would have a few more efforts on goal as they endeavoured to go into the interval in front as Jordan Rose played the ball into Ed Harris who failed to connect to the effort with the ball being cleared by the hosts. Seconds later the Hawks were at their attacking best again as the ball from Rory Williams is played into Jason Prior whose volleyed effort goes wide of the goal.
HALF-TIME: Hayes & Yeading 0-0 HAWKS
The second half started in a controversial fashion as the Hayes and Yeading skipper was sent off for a second bookable offence following a flying challenge between him and Hawks striker Jason Prior with the Yeading man coming of second best being stretchered off the field of play.
The hawks first opportunity for the hawks came 10 minutes into the second half as Rory Williams played the ball into Alfie Rutherford with the striker seeing the ball go out for a corner. From the resulting corner the ball was punched away by Jack Smith only as far as Rory Williams who volleys the ball sweetly into the top right hand corner to break the deadlock.
And it would be the breaking of the deadlock that would see the Hawks excert their authority on the game as minutes later the Hawks would double their advantage as Williams crossed the ball into Jason Prior who headed the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out. Within seconds of the second, the goals would continue to fly in like London buses as Ryan Woodford from a Rory Williams corner headed the ball home to score his first goal of the season from the near post.
A few minutes after the third hawks goal they were once again looking for a fourth but Williams’ effort goes way over the bar. Seconds later Hayes and Yeading had a rare opportunity of their own as Duku got past the Hawks defence but a weak effort would be easily matched by Ryan Young in the Hawks goal.
A hawks double substitution saw Theo Lewis and Alfie Rutherford be replaced by James Hayter and Matt Tubbs. And the two subs would come close to adding a fourth to the Hawks account within minutes of coming on as first Tubbs turns and shoots with the effort cleared by the hayes defence only as far as James Hayter who had his shot cleared off the line.
But Hayter would 15 minutes from time get his name on the scoresheet as the goalkeeper Smith way of his line cleared the ball poorly finding the 38 year old who fired the ball home from all of 40 yards out to send the Hawks fans into delirium.
Following the goal manager Lee Bradbury would make his final substitution of the game as Dan Strugnell would come on with the 24 year old Hawks legend make his first competitive appearance of the season following a long injury layoff.
The Hawks would have a few chances in the final ten minutes of the encounter the first of which from Andreas Robinson had a dinked effort that went wide followed in quick succession by a James Hayter headed effort which was saved on the line.
FULL-TIME: Hayes & Yeading 0-4 HAWKS
Havant and Waterlooville progress to the fourth qualifying round of the competition for the first time since 2015 where the big boys of the National League enter the frey as the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Hartlepool United and Leyton Orient could be the opponents as the Hawks begin to dream.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 