Long Time Coming

Wednesday, November 20 . 7.45pm . Westleigh Park 

Havant & Waterlooville v Tiverton Town 

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South 

ELEVEN days will have passed when the Yellows take to the field on Wednesday evening.  

In that time, the coaching staff and the players will have worked hard on the training ground and had lots to ponder ahead of this game in Hampshire. In their absence, the picture in the lower reaches of the table is a little more troublesome for Tivvy, with sides in and around them picking up points. 

So, what of the opposition? Of course, up until this season, the Hawks were playing their football in National League South. Currently sitting in 11th, they are fresh from an away FA Trophy victory at National South side Welling United by a 2-1 scoreline.  

In charge of team affairs is Head Coach Shaun North, who was appointed during the off season with plenty of pedigree as an assistant manager in the EFL with Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham Town, along with a 20-year coaching association with Portsmouth.  

Tivvy fans who also follow Exeter City will be very familiar with defensive midfielder Nigel Atangana. A popular player with the Grecians, he is sure to bring a wealth of experience to the Hawks, which is where the 35-year-old Frenchman first played football on his arrival from France.  

Twenty-five year-old striker Harvey Bradbury has been the hosts’ main goal source this term; his 10 goals from 14 league games bear testament to that. Bradbury signed pro forms with Portsmouth, Millwall and Watford before promising spells in the non-League with the likes of Woking, Dartford, Dorchester, Gosport Borough and Farnborough means that he has started to fulfil that early promise as a young pro.  

Forward Ryan Seager made an appearance in the Premier League whilst a youngster with Southampton. Crewe Alexandra, MK Dons and Yeovil were his other pro clubs. He also played twice for England Under-17s. Now 28, Seager has been prolific in National League South for the likes of Hungerford and Dorking Wanderers and will need close attention.  

Callum Kealy is a mainstay of the Hawks’ team and the striker makes our hosts look very strong in that department. A former Academy player with Brighton, he has regularly appeared in the National League South with tonight’s opponents, Dorking Wanderers, Eastbourne and Worthing, additionally playing a step higher for Sutton United. 

Powerfully built centre-back Joe McNerny definitely has the pedigree to stand out at this level. Playing 140 times for Crawley Town in League Two and making 300 appearances for Woking across two spells in the National League are undoubtedly impressive stats. 

On paper, this looks like a very testing fixture but, as the Yellows’ have discovered during the season to this point, the outcome of a match is not as predictable as reading a set of statistics. A narrow loss in a game of two halves last time out against Hanwell is only a guide in a league where a side only has to be slightly off colour to feel the weight of defeat.  

The Yellows will be without Dylan Jones, who is suspended for this one, and the Bakers - Zak and Mike - both remain sidelined.  

There have been many positives from Rob Dray’s opening three games in charge. We tailed off in the second half against Hanwell, but the first-half display was equal to anything we have seen from Tivvy at Ladysmead this term and the two games previous were both good performances.  

So, come 7.45 on Wednesday evening, the Yellows will be looking to deliver.