Havant capped a fantastic first season back in hockey’s top flight with a fine win over league champions Reading this weekend.
 The game against their Berkshire opponents had been rescheduled due to the heavy snow the previous weekend and Havant knew that a win would see them finish 4^th in the league.
 Havant started brightly and took the lead in the 5^th minute when Andy Pett finished from close range.
 The home side continued to play some great hockey in the first half but a defensive lapse lead to a Reading equaliser from Simon Lanyon in the 16^th minute.
 The score line stayed like this until the break with both sides having chances to take the lead but some good goalkeeping from Brothers and Havant keeper Chris Bristow kept the scoreline level.
 Havant began the second half as they did the first and when Tim Davenport intercepted a cross field Reading pass he ran one on one with Brothers and coolly lifted the ball over the Reading keeper to give Havant a 2-1 lead.
 The lead however was short lived as another defensive mix up gave Andy Watts a chance he couldn’t miss and Reading were level at 2-2.
 Havant refused to lie down and they were ahead again 11 minutes later when Pett fed Davenport who rounded Brothers and finished on his reverse.
 Havant’s lead lasted even shorter this time as from the resulting push back Reading went forward and Huw Jones slotted past Bristow to make the score 3-3.
 Still not content with a draw Havant continued to press and Egyptian winger Ezz who was quiet in the first half began to influence the game more and more.
 A fantastic run from Ezz which saw him beat three Reading defenders lead to him crossing the ball for Davenport who completed his hat-trick and his 20^th league goal of the season with a close range finish.
 Upon hearing the final whistle the Havant players and supporters celebrated a stunning win against the team crowned league champions weeks before this game took place
 It shows how far Havant have come this season after recovering from a very poor start.
 4^th place in the highest league in domestic hockey is a great achievement from the side who have previously won back-to-back promotions to ensure their participation in this league this season.
 They will look to build on these achievements next season when they will hope to qualify for the Euro Hockey League, which is earned through finishing in the top three of the Premier league.
 With the experienced gained this season with a very young squad the future looks extremely bright for Havant.
 Their season is not finished yet however. They still face a trip to Beeston to compete in the semi final of the National Cup on May 5^th. They will want to extend their successes already this season with a win there and then in the final, also at Beeston later that month.

report by Tim Davenport.

PICTURES BY JEN TILBURY