fareham

spectator 24th October 2011

....and there it was.....as quick as a flash

QUICKEST GOAL EVER SCORED AT HAVANT

Havant 1st XI men 2  -  Fareham 1st XI men 1  As suspected this fixture displayed plenty of excitement and passion with Havant taking the points after an excellent first half performance.  Havant could not of got off to a better start scoring in the first minute of the game  A Fareham midfield player was disposed of the ball by Craig Duffy. He fed Sunny who drove towards the circle passing to Andy Pett wide on the left. Andy drew George Harris in the Fareham goal and slipped it past him to give Havant the advantage.Pett was nearly on the score sheet 2 minutes later when Sunny once again fed Andy Pett, but although he beat Harris again he was snuffed out by a recovering Fareham defence.  Throughout the first half Fareham were poor at the back making basic errors and often giving the ball to a Havant side who looked confident. Havant won their first penalty corner in the 17th minute after Fareham denied them a quick free hit outside the circle.  This set piece broke down, but the ball ran wide to Pett who passed it back across the circle to Jon Smedley, but he could only deflect the ball wide of the goal.  A minute later Harris pulled off a good save from a reverse shot from Sunny, but Harris could not stop Havant taking the lead in the 23rd minute when Sunny who had made a good run along the end line pulled the ball back to Charlie Stubbings who was making his 1st XI debut. Charlie celebrated the occasion by firing the ball past Harris to give Havant a two goal lead.

Fareham did have some attacks on the Havant circle, but were unable to trouble Isaacs in the Havant goal. Havant looked good for their two goal half time lead and it could have been more.   Where the first half belonged to Havant the second half was Fareham's. They came out with a very positive attitude knowing that they had to throw everything at Havant if they were going to get anything from the game.  Craig Peel was pushed higher up the pitch and their proactive second hand approach was rewarded in the 44th minute when at their first penalty corner they switched the ball to the far post where Alex Bennett swept the ball into the Havant goal.  With fresh confidence Fareham dominated the next five minutes were Havant gave the ball away to often, but slowly worked them selves back into the game.  Fareham were awarded a second penalty corner in the 55th minute when their trade mark slip to Craig Peel at the top of the circle game to nothing, after Isaacs saved his flick.  Three minutes later Havant nearly converted a penalty corner again from the ball that was switched to the far post, but Mackey sliding in could not get a touch on the ball. Fareham went straight up Havant's end and won a penalty corner, which after a retake could not force an equaliser.  In the 66th and 67th minute Havant had two half chances from Mackey and Sunny, but neither chance were taken.  Fareham pushed hard for the equaliser in the last five minutes but a well marshalled Havant defence kept Fareham at bay giving Havant the three points and frustrating Fareham, who lost the game in a very poor first half. Chris Pickett.