Match Preview | Havant & Waterlooville
- Tiverton Town Media Team
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Tiverton Town vs Havant & Waterlooville
Saturday 29th November 3pm kick off
The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium
Following four away games in November, the Yellows end the month back on home territory where they will face a Havant & Waterlooville side, who many predicted before the campaign got underway, would be amongst the front- runners but instead they, at this stage of the season, are also amongst the strugglers.
With quite a gap to make up on those currently above the relegation places the Yellows will have to chip away at those directly above them and hopefully that should see them climb a few places before the turn of the year. On Saturday both sides will be scrapping for points. The Hawks will be looking to pull further away from us, whilst we will be looking to move closer to them.
The management team have freshened things up over the last ten days or so, with keepers Matt Wonnacott and Marko Radovanovic arriving at the club, along with midfielders Ryan Keates and Jack Kennell. Aiden Horne definitely didn’t disappoint when starting against Poole in that astonishing 5-5 draw in Dorset on Tuesday night and neither did Tor Swann who took up more of a central role, with both of them scoring braces in that epic game.
With Dan Koita adjudged not fit enough to start against the Dolphins, but a second half substitute, there is plenty of in-form fire power available to Asa Hall and Steve Orchard. Another marksman, Louis Jagger Cane, has been out with a hamstring injury.
Our opponents on Saturday have recently made a managerial change, parting company with Shaun North and installing former Southampton player Aaron Martin as the new man in charge. His opening games in the hotseat were both against other teams at the wrong end of the table. A 3-0 loss at Bracknell on Nov 17th was followed by a 2-0 home win last weekend and on Wednesday night they drew 1-1 against Chertsey at home.
Striker Ryan Seager has amassed quite a tally of goals in the past few seasons in the Southern League Premier South. Scoring almost a goal a game, he has a record of 46 goals from 54 matches. The lethal frontman has EFL pedigree and played once for Southampton in the Premier League and made a second appearance in The FA Cup. MK Dons, Crewe Alexandra and Yeovil Town are his other pro clubs along with a spell in Dutch football with Telstar. Seager now 29, has also represented Dorking Wanderers in the National League and Hungerford and his current side in National League South.
The emerging Ethan Giwa-McNeil has made a good start to life at his new club, after spending time with Baldock Town and Biggleswade Town, last term. The much-travelled Nana Owusu is a wide man who possesses lots of flair. Originally a trainee at Reading, the gifted Owusu has played for the likes of Maidenhead, Oxford City and Walton & Hersham, to name a few of his clubs.
Alfy Whittingham, the son of Guy Whittingham, also has had many destinations. The talented 27 year old central midfielder is actually in his fourth spell with the Hawks. Previously playing higher up the football pyramid with his current side, Aldershot, Hungerford and Hampton & Richmond.
Nigel Atangana is no stranger to these parts, having travelled here with Exeter City in pre season on a few occasions. The veteran midfielder now 36, had a successful EFL career, playing for Portsmouth, Leyton Orient and Cheltenham as well as the Grecians. He joined the Hawks from Eastleigh at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
23 year old Olly Pendlebury is an influential player in Havant & Waterlooville’s midfield. His CV includes Reading and senior appearances with Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL. The creative Pendlebury also has pedigree in the non league, where he has worn the colours of Woking, Farnborough and Aldershot.
Centre back George Milner-Smith has made a big impression on Hawks supporters since initially spending a loan period at the club from parent club Aldershot. The technical young player has now made a permanent move to Havant & Waterlooville. Milner-Smith was also on loan at Sholing and Chertsey whilst at the Shots. Fellow defender Brendan Willson is a fairly experienced player at semi-pro level. Beginning his playing career at Eastleigh, he was also at Weymouth playing a step higher in the 2022/23 season, as a loanee. A loan spell at our visitors and a second at Poole in the season after, has given Willson, a talented young footballer, a good early grounding.
Vying to be Havant and Waterlooville’s number one are Lorenz Ferdinand, son of Rio, a highly thought of keeper who is on loan from Premier League Brighton and Ben Dudzinski, a vastly experienced custodian who has played higher up the pyramid and his CV includes Sutton United, Oxford City, Dartford and the Hawks when they were playing a step higher.
This should be a close fought encounter, with a lot riding on the game. With the absence of a home game for the first team, so far this month it will be much anticipated by our loyal support. So let’s get behind the lads.
