Hawks 2-2 Poole Town; Full National League South match report
Havant and Waterlooville were held to a 2-2 draw against Poole Town in the Vanarama National League South on a wet and windy afternoon as Westleigh Park felt the full force of Storm Brian. The Hawks came into the game on the back of the FA Cup disappointment against Maidenhead United a week ago.
Prior to proceedings getting underway Andreas Robinson picked up the September player of the month award with Robbo being named in the starting lineup with the only change from last week’s cup defeat being James Hayter coming in for Jordan Rose.
The wind would be a key factor in the opening with not too many opportunities being created in the early stages. But when the first opportunity fell 20 minutes into the game it fell to the Hawks as some good passing and movement sees the ball played to Rory Williams who tried to play the ball across goal towards Jason Prior but before it could find the in form striker, Hutchins got a good clean connection to it in the Dolphins goal.
Minutes after the Hawks has another opportunity as Tarbuck cut the ball in from the right but his effort hampered by the winds of Storm Brian and blew of course resulting to a goal kick for the visitors.
On the half hour mark, the Hawks would be given a spot kick as Will Spetch was deemed by referee Scott Jackson that he handled in the area and there was only one man who would handle the ball down on the penalty spot and that man would be Jason Prior. Prior would miss with the initial spot following a good save by the keeper but unable to hold it, the Hawks number 9 would despatch it seconds later at the second attempt.
With the Hawks a goal up they were in search for a second in no time at all as Rory Williams would have a go from distance but again the wind factor came into play as it fizzed wide of the mark. But before the first half was complete the Hawks would have another chance as as Tarbuck had a go from a corner but that again would go just wide of goal.
HALF-TIME: Hawks 1-0 Poole Town
The Hawks would be playing down slope in the second half but would have the wind against them as the weather intensified ahead of the second period not that it would dampen the spirits of the 830 hearty souls that came along to Westleigh Park.
And within 5 minutes of the restart Poole Town made wind advantage count as a free kick in the penalty area was half cleared with Matt Neale finding it for Poole Town and he would place the ball home to level the scores and put the game firmly on a knife-edge.
But the Hawks would try and respond as within 60 seconds of conceding they had another opportunity as Jason Prior had an effort on goal but Nick Hutchins comfortably held. Then the game would hit another quiet patch as the wind continued to swirl around the ground, gusts reaching 50 mph were what the players had to contend with.
With a quarter of an hour to go the Hawks were trying to amplify their chances of getting a winner. The Hawks thought they had a golden opportunity when a Rory Williams free kick found James Hayter in the penalty area with his shot deflected by the Poole Town defence.
And it would be the visitors that would find themselves in front with just over ten minutes to go when a slip from the Hawks defence let Warren Bentley in and he would not spurn the chance given to him as the visitors took the lead for the first time in the game.
The Hawks response to the setback came within three minutes as Rory Williams had a free kick following a foul on Wes Fogden from decent range. With him and George Barker the two faces over the set piece the former Brighton man left the duties to Williams who’s effort went just over.
With a matter of minutes left the Hawks would get an equaliser as a Bradley Tarbuck cross finds Jason Prior at the far post who heads it back into play and along to Alfie Rutherford who’s patience is rewarded as the Hawks brought the game back to a Desmond.
The goal ignited the crowd at Westleigh Park, with the atmosphere ramping up a notch as it entered the 4 minutes of injury time. The Hawks were continually trying to get the ball forward and into the penalty area but the Poole defence in their droves would get the ball away.
But the game wouldn’t finish without its bit of controversy as the last action of the encounter saw Theo Widdrington sent off after a challenge on Steve Devlin with the Dolphins player lashing out afterwards but much to Theo and the Hawks’ frustration they would finish what was left of the game with ten men.
FULL-TIME: Hawks 2-2 Poole Town
The Hawks would drop points again the National League South with Lee Bradbury using Tuesday’s start of their Portsmouth Senior Cup defence against Petersfield as a way to reinstall some confidence in the side ahead of a tough away trip to Braintree Town in a week’s time.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 