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| spectator 20th February 2019 |
| HAVANT GET TENTATIVE WIN |
HAVANT MEN 4 BOURNVILLE 2. Bottom of the table Bournville came to Havant on Sunday having played their game in hand on Saturday going down 4-3 against Guildford. Despite the loss the performance would have given them heart in a desperate attempt to avoid the drop from National League hockey. Although they failed to score any points over the weekend their performance today was very spirited, and at times had a Havant side against the ropes, especially in the second half of the game. The first of many chances during the game fell to Havant in the 5th minute. An ariel from Daniel Faulkner finding Colin French wide on the right outside the circle. Colin drove into the circle, but was snuffed out by Fred Warren in the Bournville goal. A minute later Bournville won the first of their eight penalty corners, which broke down and resulted in a quick Havant break. Sam Hatherley found Colin French unmarked in the circle, but his intended pass to another Havant forward went astray and Bournville cleared the danger. Slightly against the run of play it was Havant who took the lead in the 9th minute, Colin French converting at close range after Jamie Askham sent a reverse shot which rebounded off Warren in goal. Bournville undeterred pushed forward at every opportunity and they won their second penalty corner in the 11th minute after Mo Lester was penalised with a green card and a two minute suspension for a clumsy tackle outside the circle. The resulting shot was well saved by Andy Isaacs in the Havant goal. Havant started to take more of a control of the game winning the ball in midfield and it was from one of these turnovers that saw Ben Mackey win Havant's first penalty corner in the 20th minute Jon Smedley dragged the ball low and hard hitting the keepers pads and into the goal, a shot that one can not help but think should have been saved. At this point it looked like Havant would run away with the game. Another good chance then fell to Charlie Stubbings who put his shot wide after an interchange between Jon Smedley and Pol had set up the opportunity. In the 25th minute a Bournville left wing cross became lodged in Isaac's pads resulting in their third penalty corner. Bournville dragged the ball off the top of the circle, which was deflected over a diving Isaac's. Whilst Bournville celebrated, the goal was disallowed, to the crowds amazement with a later explanation being the ball was deflected off a Bournville foot and not a stick. Two minutes later Charlie Stubbings won Havant's second penalty corner, which was moved wide and came to nothing. Havant were now dominating the midfield with some good ball interchanges. It was from one of these moves that should have put Havant three goals in the lead. The ball was well worked into circle from the left finding Jon Smedley with an open net after the keeper had been eliminated, but his reverse scoop sent the ball high and wide away from the open goal. In the 34th minute Bournville pulled a goal back from a well worked penalty corner. A poorly timed Askham tackle outside the circle resulted in a green card and a two minute suspension as well as Bournville's fourth penalty corner. From the top of the circle the ball was moved right then back into the penalty spot to a Bournville forward who moved it right again to Harry Rowland four feet from the Havant left post. Harry neatly moved the ball past Isaac's to give his side a life line as half time approached. In the dying seconds of the half Havant could have restored their two goal lead when a long ball was crashed into the Bournville circle, but Andrew Pett was unable to get a stick to it. In the 34th minute Bournville pulled a goal back from a well worked penalty corner. A poorly timed Askham tackle outside the circle resulted in a green card and a two minute suspension as well as Bournville's fourth penalty corner. From the top of the circle the ball was moved right then back into the penalty spot to a Bournville forward who moved it right again to Harry Rowland four feet from the Havant left post. Harry neatly moved the ball past Isaac's to give his side a life line as half time approached. In the dying seconds of the half Havant could have restored their two goal lead when a long ball was crashed into the Bournville circle, but Andrew Pett was unable to get a stick to it. |
Over
the
public
address system at half time came the news that Fareham
had been defeated 3-4 away at Cheltenham and more importantly Cardiff
had beaten second placed Birmingham University, giving us the
opportunity of moving up the table if we could secure 3 points. The second half was a frustrating affair for the Havant supporters as the home side suffered from poor ball skills, gave the ball away to often and squandered more chances. Pol had the first opportunity of the second half finding space in the Bournville circle, but he was unable to control a pass, which would have given him a one on one with the keeper. Bournville came out for the second half with greater determination and won their fifth penalty corner in the 42nd minute. This came to nothing as did the retake. From the retake Havant broke quickly creating a 4 on 2, but a final pass was intercepted. In the 47th minute after a spell of supremacy Ben Mackey won Havant's third penalty corner and this time Smedley gave Warren no chance as his drag flick found the corner of the goal to give the home side a 3-1 lead. The next ten minutes saw Bournville throw everything at Havant. They pressed high and gave Havant little time on the ball. Havant found it difficult to work the ball between themselves making a number of basic errors. Bournville nearly capitalised on a couple of good chances and were perhaps unlucky not to score. They did however bundle over for a second goal when Havant were guilty of a lack of urgency and some sloppy defending. It was Tom Rowland who scored to give Bournville the belief they could turn the score round with 19 minutes left on the clock. Two more rash tackles round the Havant circle presented Bournville with two more penalty corners one resulting in another two minute suspension. The first corner was charged down by Jonathan Pickett, and the other cleared from danger, but Havant were living on their nerves and then lost their captain Raj Laly with a suspected broken thumb. The game continued to ebb from one end to the other in what was a highly competitive encounter. Havant lacked the ability to cut thorough the Bournville's defence and the away team worked hard to save their season. In the 65th minute Havant won their fourth penalty corner after a cross had struck a Bournville foot. The resulting shot was well saved. In the 66th minute Craig Duffy won himself a yellow card suspension for a last ditch tackle in Havant's 25. A penalty corner was awarded, Bournville's eighth. This was a crucial point in the game with only minutes remaining, but again it was Jonathan Pickett who charged down the shot from the top of the circle. In the 69th minute Craig Mullons robbed the ball from a Bournville midfield player, after a couple of forward passes the ball fell to Jon Smedley who for me was man of the match, Jon crashed the ball into the goal from the top of the circle for his hatrick, guaranteeing Havant three points and bringing a great deal of relief to the Havant supporters! This win moves Havant into second position in the table, but 11 points behind league leaders Team Bath.
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