Havant and Waterlooville were knocked out the FA Trophy but with their heads held high despite being beaten 3-1 by a star studded Billericay side. Jason Prior started as a lone striker in front of Fogden, Lewis & Tarbuck. Andreas Robinson maintained his stamp in the side for the big matches.
It would be the Bostik League side took the lead after just three minutes as a defensive mix up saw Jake Robinson through on goal and he would slot home to score his 32nd of the season.
The response by the Hawks told. They would have the lions share of possession in the ten minutes that followed the goal with a couple of half chances for Prior and Lewis which didn’t breach the home defence.
Then 25 minutes in Bradley Tarbuck would have an effort from range but the audacity that Tarbuck showed didn’t reap it’s rewards as the effort flew over.
Half an hour in and the Hawks would be frustrated not to have levelled proceedings as a poor back pass by the hosts found Fogden who looked to have rounded Julian in the Billericay goal and when it looked like the net was about to bulge the home keeper found a miraculous touch to send it for a corner.
Towards the end of the first period madness ensued as Matthew Paine came in high and late on Mike Carter with the Billericay man getting sent off before a mele in the middle of the park saw Jordan Rose sent off for an aggressive shove.
And with the last kick of the opening period Jason Prior who following a good through ball by Bradley Tarbuck was denied by Julian in the Billericay goal.
HALF TIME: Billericay 1-0 Havant & Waterlooville
Early in the second half in the same vain as the first period Billericay & Jake Robinson scored. After getting a long ball he then laced the ball past Young in the Hawks goal to double the Ricay lead.
But this seemed to galvanise the Hawks as they forced Tamplin’s ten men back into their own half and into their own penalty area for the majority of that half. Williams had the first of many Hawks chances in the second half but his effort would be matched by Julian in the home goal.
Then again Fogden would try his luck in the penalty area but for the third time he would be denied on the line by a Billericay defence that were standing resolute to constant pressure in which the Hawks were putting in front of them.
On the hour mark Matt Tubbs was introduced into the game and would prove just the tonic the Hawks were hoping for. After just 5 minutes of coming on he would give the Hawks a much needed lifeline as a Williams cross from the right found Tubbs who’s powerful header found the bottom corner at the near post to give the Hawks hope with 25 minutes left in the tie.
And the game dramatically see-sawed into the Hawks favour with the hosts lucky to string together a succession of passes in their own half for the next 15 minutes.
With a quarter of an hour left the Hawks though they had got their leveller but Tubbs’ effort was parried low by Julian only as far as Tarbuck who’s effort from the rebound was cleared off the line by Inman.
And again it would be the lethal left foot of Rory Williams that would cause Billericay damage as he crossed ball in again towards the path of James Hayter who couldn’t quite get the shot away as Julian forced the veteran to put the ball out for a goal kick.
The board for stoppage time read four minutes giving the Hawks some sort of hope. They went for it but after losing possession on the edge of the Billericay penalty area with Sam Deering going from one end of the field to the other before slotting past Ryan Young and killing the tie off and shattering Hawks’ hearts in the process.
FULL TIME: Billericay 3-1 Hawks
Not to be for the Hawks who put up an incredible display and showed their fighting qualities against a star studded Billericay side. With a Portsmouth Cup tie against Paulsgrove Tuesday it will serve as a chance to brush it out of their systems ahead of the busy Christmas league schedule.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 