retired_edmari

1/1/07

Broadhall Way, Stevenage – Att: 1,225
Stevenage Borough v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

2007 started about as well as 2006 ended, with another poor defeat and three goals past poor Ghent.

Stevenage took an early lead through Jon Nurse, and arguably showed they were deserving of it during the course of the match, perhaps being slightly the better team out there.

They flattered themselves late on though extending the scoreline way past that which the performance deserved, with Nurse and Sullivan adding the goals to see them ease to victory.

Stevenage 3 (Nurse 12, 90, Sullivan 83) Havant & W 0
Ghent 5, McClements 7, Poate 7, Gray 6, Okuonghae 7, Ford 7, Lopez 7, Rastoll 6 (Town 69, 6), Whelan 6, Sundvall 6, Hall 7 (Younghusband 69, 6)
Man of the Match: Michael Staley (Stevenage)


10/1/07

Brunton Park, Carlisle – Att: 4,645
Carlisle United v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

We were slipping dangerously close to the drop zone after going too long without picking up points, but we recorded our first win in eight games here and boy did we do it in style.

By far the better side we found ourselves cruising before the break, with a hat-trick from Mark Hall. The first was a neat tap-in on the end of a Wallis-Taylor cross, the second a marvelous solo effort capping off a 40 or so yard run from the striker, and the last a beautiful volley from the edge of a box.

Lopez found his way onto the end of a Younghusband cross after half time to add to the misery for Carlisle, and McClements got lucky with a mis-hit cross that ended up beating Sam McEwen into the back of the net. Barry Conlon pulled one back but it was by far too little, and by far too late.

Carlisle 1 (Conlon 85) Havant & W 5 (Hall 6, 28, 34, Lopez 59, McClements 74)
Ghent 7, McClements 10, Wallis-Taylor 10, Wicks 9, Pearce 8 (Okuonghae 45, 8), Ford 8, Lopez 8, Rastoll 9, Whelan 8, Flood 7 (Younghusband 45, 7), Hall 10
Man of the Match: Mark Hall (Havant & W)


13/1/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 281
Havant & Waterlooville v Thurrock (FA Trophy Second Round)

We safely progressed in the FA Trophy with another five-goal demolition job against Conference South side Thurrock. Rastoll opened the scoring with a wonder of a curling shot from the corner of the penalty area, turning provider half an hour later to set Hall up for a equally impressive goal from a difficult angle.

Hall scored yet again with a nicely taken effort from just inside the box a few minutes later, and was unlucky not to secure another hat-trick as the match went on.

Lopez regained his place as the club’s top scorer with his 10th of the season, tapping in a rebound after a Hall cross was poorly punched away by Peter Nightingale, and Ford finished the day with a nicely hit penalty towards full time.

Havant & W 5 (Rastoll 5, Hall 32, 36, Lopez 58, Ford pen 79) Thurrock 0
Ghent 8, McClements 9, Wallis-Taylor 9, Wicks 10, Pearce 9, Ford 8, Lopez 8, Rastoll 9, Whelan 9, Flood 8, Hall 10
Man of the Match: Matthew Wicks (Havant & W)

The last sixteen will see us visit Halifax to contest for a place in the quarter finals.


17/1/07

Stonebridge Road, Gravesend – Att: 1,349
Gravesend and Northfleet v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

Promotion chasers Gravesend brought our short winning run to a rather too quick end.

Early goals from Steven White and Jimmy Jackson got the job done quickly, and were enough to secure the hosts three points from a particularly dull match.

A decent performance wasn’t to be enough as we slipped ever closer to the bottom four.

Gravesend 2 (White 11, Jackson 14) Havant & W 0
Ghent 7, McClements 7, Wallis-Taylor 8, Wicks 7, Pearce 7, Ford 7, Lopez 7, Rastoll 6, Whelan 6 (Okuonghae 45, 7), Younghusband 7, Hall 7
Man of the Match: Sebastian Wallis-Taylor (Havant & W)


20/1/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 481
Havant & Waterlooville v Kidderminster Harriers (Conference)

A closely fought encounter ended up with a lucky win for the visitors. Iain Russell put them in front early on, and Eugene Dadi doubled the lead with a stunning strike a few minutes later.

This one wasn’t over so easily though, and neatly taken goals from Sundvall and Lopez brought us all square with half an hour played.

Our hopes were raised a little with Jonny Harkness sent off for the visiting side, but dashed again with another Russell goal just before half time, which turned out to be enough to secure the win for Kiddy.

Havant & W 2 (Sundvall 25, Lopez 30) Kidderminster 3 (Russell 9, 45, Dadi 15)
Ghent 6, McClements 7, Wallis-Taylor 8, Wicks 7, Pearce 7, Ford 7, Lopez 7, Rastoll 6, Whelan 6, Sundvall 8, Hall 7
Man of the Match: Sebastian Wallis-Taylor (Havant & W)


23/1/07

A new face was welcomed in ahead of today’s match. Nuri Demir a 17-year-old winger from Norway, joined on a free-transfer from Larvik Turn.

Recreation Ground, Aldershot – Att: 3,043
Aldershot Town v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

A poor performance and a terrible defeat saw us slide to the last place above the drop zone, and only clear by a single point.

A first half goal from Calvin Andrew was looking enough to win it to be honest, with us struggling to pose a threat in attack. Aldershot however were not about to sit on a 1-0 lead as they chase at the top, and demolished us in the second half.

Tyrone Mears scored from distance just after the break, with Chris Morgan tapping in a third midway through the half. Matthew Blinkhorn finished the job towards the end to leave us spiraling into deep trouble.

Aldershot 4 (Andrew 15, Mears 47, Morgan 64, Blinkhorn 84) Havant & W 0
Ghent 5, McClements 6, Wallis-Taylor 6, Wicks 6, Pearce 6, Ford 6, Lopez 6, Rastoll 6 (Demir 47, 6), Whelan 6, Flood 6, Hall 6 (Sundvall 59, 6)
Man of the Match: John Convery (Aldershot)

retired_edmari

27/1/07

The Glyn Hopkin Stadium, Dagenham – Att: 1,109
Dagenham and Redbridge v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

With the season falling quickly into a dogfight at the bottom, it was time for a major tactical overhaul. The three-man defence was being regularly exposed so a simple flat back four was employed, with an attacking five-man midfield system and a lone striker. I also dropped Ghent, giving Bulman a chance to prove himself.

Fortunately it worked and we were back in business with three points here. Sundvall opened the scoring, beating veteran ‘keeper Tony Roberts to a Town cross and tapping into the bottom corner. A good counter attacking move brought about the second, with Rastoll finding Sundvall clear of the defence to place home another from the edge of the box.

The roles reversed two minutes later, with Sundvall catching a long pass from McClements, before crossing into Rastoll for the third. Glen Southam shoved down Ford in the area, and the midfielder stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty and complete a superb day.

Dag & Red 0 Havant & W 4 (Sundvall 12, 50, Rastoll 52, Ford pen 83)
Bulman 8, McClements 8, Briscoe 8, Pearce 8, Wicks 10, Ford 8, Savage 8, Lopez 8, Town 8, Sundvall 8, Rastoll 8
Man of the Match: Matthew Wicks (Havant & W)


3/2/07

The Shay, Halifax – Att: 807
Halifax Town v Havant & Waterlooville (FA Trophy Third Round)

Dagenham didn’t appear to be a one off as the small band of traveling Hawks were treated to another goalfest away from home.

Lopez started this one off, volleying Town’s cross past Ian Booth after just 43 seconds of play. Sundvall then beat the young keeper to a poor backpass from Haslam and ran round him before tapping into the empty net.

With 20 minutes gone it was 3-0, with Town heading in an inch-perfect cross from Savage at the far post.

The match didn’t quite continue in that way, but one more goal came, midway through the second half courtesy of one of Ford’s wonder free kicks. Halifax’s day finished in worse fashion with Steve Bushell sent off in the late stages. We secured a trip to Weymouth in the last eight.

Halifax 0 Havant & W 4 (Lopez 1, Sundvall 11, Town 20, Ford 70)
Bulman 8, McClements 8, Briscoe 8, Pearce 8, Wicks 9, Ford 8, Savage 8, Lopez 8 (O’Garro 49, 7), Town 8 (Demir 49, 6), Sundvall 7 (Flood 49, 7), Rastoll 8
Man of the Match: Matthew Wicks (Havant & W)


10/2/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 290
Havant & Waterlooville v Halifax Town (Conference)

At home we couldn’t quite recreate the form of the last two games, and Halifax were certainly seeking revenge for the match last week.

From the off we never looked quite as threatening as we have of late, but were just about the better side and in the end couldn’t be denied the three points.

Lopez found the net after knocking in a Sundvall cross deep in injury time.

Havant & W 1 (Lopez 90) Halifax 0
Bulman 8, McClements 8, Briscoe 7, Pearce 8, Wicks 8, Ford 7, Savage 7, Lopez 8, Town 7, Sundvall 8, Poate 7
Man of the Match: Sam Pearce (Havant & W)


14/2/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 807
Havant & Waterlooville v Weymouth (Conference)

A tightly contested game saw Weymouth sneak victory from us as our winning run died all too soon once more.

Like it had been earlier in the season our side was being ripped apart by injuries, illnesses and suspensions, leaving a number of first choice players out here.

Ian MacSween scored the only goal of the match fairly early in the game, and with neither side looking too threatening it was more than enough to do the job really. Poate was off injured shortly after the goal as we began adding the backups to the treatment table – and Lopez, Town and Demir all picked up knocks during the course of the match.

Havant & W 0 Weymouth 1 (MacSween 18)
Bulman 6, McClements 7, Briscoe 7, Jordan 6, Wicks 7, Ford 7, Savage 7, Lopez 7, Town 6, Sundvall 6, Poate 6 (Demir 23, 6)
Man of the Match: Jay Smith (Weymouth)


17/2/07

Park Lane, Canvey Island – Att: 844
Canvey Island v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

The squad was now severely lacking, leaving a number of reserves on the pitch and the bench – and Lee Briscoe starting as our left-sided forward!

Predictably then, we never really stood much chance, and Canvey made light work of getting the points here. Kezie Ibe put them ahead a few minutes in with a well-taken effort, and Brett Cooper doubled the lead.

We then lost another to the physio room, with Börje Sundvall breaking his foot and likely to miss the rest of the season. By half time the lead was extended ever further, with Ibe adding his second and third of the match in first half stoppage time.

We had a number of wasted chances during the second half, but never really deserved to threaten the commanding lead Canvey had built, however Ameobi tapped in right at the death to give us a consolation goal. Demir also added himself to the ‘out’ list, twisting a knee to miss a month of football.

Canvey Island 4 (Ibe 4, 45, 45, Cooper 24) Havant & W 1 (Ameobi 90)
Bulman 6, Annon 6, Wicks 6, Jordan 6, Whelan 6, Ford 6, Savage 6, O’Garro 6, Demir 5, Sundvall 7 (Ameobi 39, 7), Briscoe 7
Man of the Match: Kezie Ibe (Canvey Island)


20/2/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 288
Havant & Waterlooville v Alfreton Town (Conference)

Sorry Alfreton were well on their way down, 12 points adrift at the bottom, having not won a match since October. Their lack of Conference quality showed as the few chances they managed to give their forward line were generally fired harmlessly wide of Bulman’s goal.

Unfortunately we remained rather depleted and struggled to trouble our visitors either, also losing Younghusband to injury during the first half – fortunately only for a couple of weeks.

A goalless draw was disappointing but kept the wolves from the door for the time being.

Havant & W 0 Alfreton 0
Bulman 6, McClements 7, Briscoe 7, Wicks 6, Whelan 7, Okuonghae 7, Ford 7, Savage 7, Jordan 7, Law 6, Younghusband 7 (Hall 29, 7)
Man of the Match: Greg Smith (Alfreton)


24/2/07

Wessex Stadium, Weymouth – Att: 581
Weymouth v Havant & Waterlooville (FA Trophy Fourth Round)

Our quest to reach the last four of the trophy couldn’t have started better. Within twenty minutes Weymouth were down to ten men, Law had a goal disallowed for a dodgy offside call, and we were safely 2-0 up through neat strikes from Savage and Hall.

Thoroughly dominant we were understandably a tad disappointed to concede moments before the break, with Eribenne pulling one back to leave the match back in the balance.

An own goal at each end left the score at 3-2 to us, and three goals in the dying moments of the match gave the fans a thrilling finish to a great match.

Weymouth 3 (Eribenne 45, Jordan og 74, MacSween 89) Havant & W 5 (Savage 3, Hall 17, Downer og 73, Law 90, McClements 90)
Bulman 7, McClements 10, Briscoe 8, Wicks 5, Whelan 7, Okuonghae 8, Ford 8, Savage 10, Jordan 7, Law 8, Hall 9
Man of the Match: David Savage (Havant & W)

In the semis, we’ll face Hereford, with the first leg at home in three weeks time, and the second away a week later.

retired_edmari

28/2/07

St James Park, Exeter – Att: 3,178
Exeter City v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

The confidence failed to carry into our latest league match as we went down fighting in Exeter.

Mark Ford put us in front with a nicely taken effort from just outside the box, but Whelan’s sending off left us stuck with ten men for a large portion of the match.

It took a while but Exeter eventually managed to find the way to goal during the second half. Mark Ramsay brought it level with nearly an hour gone, and we never looked like edging back in front.

A late period of immense pressure from the hosts yielded a pair of late goals, scored by Jamie Mackie and Jack Watkins. In two words; Not good.

Exeter 3 (Ramsay 59, Mackie 83, Watkins 89) Havant & W 1 (Ford 36)
Bulman 7, McClements 7, Briscoe 7, Wicks 7, Whelan 5, Ford 8, Lopez 7, Savage 7 (Wallis-Taylor 72, 7), Jordan 6, Law 7 (Flood 72, 6), Hall 7
Man of the Match: Jon Challinor (Exeter)


3/3/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 294
Havant & Waterlooville v Grays Athletic (Conference)

We’ve had our fair share of luck this season – most of it bad… and that continued this cold Saturday afternoon. Ford’s early free-kick put us nicely ahead and we looked good during the first half of the match. Ford later left the pitch injured – fortunately not to miss too much action as we move through the vital last stages of the season.

We started the second half in good spirits having had the better of the first, and doubled the lead through Hall just a few minutes after the break.

It wouldn’t be enough though. A good solo effort from Dennis Oli pulled one back shortly after we’d gone 2-0 up, and the day was ruined with Declan Boyle equalizing twenty minutes from time. On top of the bad result – well, not bad against a team in second place, but given the score after 50-odd minutes it is – we dropped, for the first time, into that dreaded relegation zone.

Havant & W 2 (Ford 10, Hall 50) Grays 2 (Oli 56, Boyle 71)
Bulman 7, McClements 7, Briscoe 7, Wicks 7, Okuonghae 7, Ford 8 (Wallis-Taylor 38, 7), Lopez 7, Savage 7, Jordan 7, Flood 7, Hall 7 (Law 56, 7)
Man of the Match: Dennis Oli (Grays)


10/3/07

Christie Park, Morecambe – Att: 1,015
Morecambe v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

I turn 32 tomorrow, so a point or three to drag us from the drop zone would make an awesome birthday present.

Savage immediately went about providing that with a long-range belter early in the match, which was one of just few chances during a dull first half. We also managed to score one of the other few chances created in the half, with Law adding to the lead shortly before the break.

Danny Carlton pulled one back, deservedly after the Shrimps started the second half in better fashion. They continued to press for more goals, but never could thanks to a superb performance between the sticks from Bulman. With Morecambe among the seven or eight that can realistically go down with Alfreton – who are just waiting to be mathematically confirmed as gone – this came as an extremely vital, and relieving victory.

Morecambe 1 (Carlton 56) Havant & W 2 (Savage 7, Law 40)
Bulman 9, McClements 7, Wallis-Taylor 8, Wicks 8 (Okuonghae 56, 6), Pearce 6, Lopez 7, Town 8, Savage 8, Jordan 7, Younghusband 7, Law 7 (Briscoe 64, 7)
Man of the Match: Matthew Bulman (Havant & W)


17/3/07

Westleigh Park, Havant – Att: 262
Havant & Waterlooville v Hereford United (FA Trophy Semi Final Leg 1)

Our bid for cup glory continued against leaders Hereford, who are seemingly on their way to the football league seven points clear at the top.

We started in the best of ways, going ahead less than two minutes in through a diving header from Law, and Lopez added to his impressive tally from midfield just a few minutes later to double the lead.

Tony James pulled Hereford back into it, firing in the penalty after Fleetwood was pulled down in the box by Whelan – who was sent off on his return from a suspension for a red in his last appearance, before we suffered the football equivalent of a batting collapse before half-time.

A double from Fleetwood and one from Ipoua put Hereford easily in front during the last few minutes of the first half. Younghusband pulled it back to 4-3 as the thrills continued into the second half, and we held out to keep the deficit reasonably minimal ahead of the second leg next weekend.

Havant & W 3 (Law 2, Lopez 10, Younghusband 51) Hereford 4 (James pen 23, Fleetwood 41, 42, Ipoua 44)
Bulman 6, McClements 8, Wallis-Taylor 9, Wicks 6, Pearce 6, Ford 7, Lopez 7, Rastoll 6, Whelan 5, Younghusband 8, Law 7
Man of the Match: Sebastian Wallis-Taylor (Havant & W)


21/3/07

The Kingfield Sports Ground, Woking – Att: 1,997
Woking v Havant & Waterlooville (Conference)

Our rearranged match from the weekend turned out to be a fairly dull one, failing to produce any goals as the keepers did well to keep out the few chances that were fired in their direction.

The defences proved better on the night to secure a point each. Another point on the board was important enough for us to enjoy the result, while Woking look set to end up in mid-table mediocrity by the end of the season.

Woking 0 Havant & W 0
Bulman 7, Town 7, Rastoll 6, McClements 7, Jordan 8, Ford 7, Lopez 7, Wallis-Taylor 7, Wicks 7, Hall 6, Briscoe 7
Man of the Match: Tom Jordan (Havant & W)


24/3/07

Edgar Street, Hereford – Att: 1,345
Hereford United v Havant & Waterlooville (FA Trophy Semi Final Leg 2)

Visiting the champions-elect was never to be an easy task, especially so when we needed a win by two clear goals to reach the final at Wembley next month.

The first half was all about defending as Hereford set about finishing the job they started last week, and somehow we desperately managed to survive the onslaught and reached the break at 0-0.

Wallis-Taylor capped off another top-notch season with a cracking goal early in the second half – that might just turn out to be so important, and Lopez put us 2-0 up and on the road to Wembley just minutes later.

It was all looking good as Hereford struggled to trouble us much, but fell apart as a well played counter attack finally unlocked the defence and allowed Danny Carey-Bertram to pull one back, level the tie and five apiece, and put us out on the away goals rule.

Hereford 1 (Carey-Bertram 81) Havant & W 2 (Wallis-Taylor 53, Lopez 57) (5-5 on Aggregate, Hereford win by away goals)
Bulman 7, Town 7, Rastoll 7, McClements 7, Jordan 9, Pearce 8, Lopez 7, Ford 7, Wicks 5, Hall 7 (Law 45, 7), Wallis-Taylor 9
Man of the Match: Sebastian Wallis-Taylor (Havant & W)




Note: If I don't make it online tomorrow night after work, I'm off on my hols on Monday so this will be revived somewhere around the 20th...