Yellows Fall at Havant

Havant & Waterlooville 4

Bradbury 10, Giwa-McNeil 26, Swann 74, Maloney 84

Tiverton Town 2

Koita 34, Jagger Cane 77

Saturday 4th October

Westleigh Park

Attendance: 289

The weight of history over the last decade in the two main cup competitions once again was added to, as The Yellows departed the FA Trophy at the first hurdle. In a testing afternoon, a few errors’ cost us dearly. Buoyed by the return of Dean Moxey after a lengthy absence, Asa Hall and Steve Orchard were without the unavailable Aiden Horne. Accompanying Moxey in the eleven was Brooklyn Wilkins, Jacob Wellington and Finn Rooke. Captain Toby Down, Tor Swann and Louis Jagger Cane were amongst the substitutes whilst Matt Wood took the captain’s armband. 

Havant and Waterlooville’s top goal scorer Ryan Seagar was missing from our hosts line up, as both sides took to the field in very windy conditions and marked the tragic passing of Chichester footballer Billy Vigar, before the match started. The home side who has an affinity for nearby Portsmouth, had the better of the early play and were rewarded in the 10^th minute. The award of a penalty was very contentious, though despite vociferous protests, the decision that a Hawks forward had been tripped stood and ex EFL striker Harvey Bradbury converted. 

Continuing to sweep forward with midfielder Olly Pendlebury often dictating moves, Forward Ryan Giwa-McNeil appeared to have won his side a second penalty in the 15^th minute when attempting to go round George Burton. However, the Referee’s verdict this time was that he had dived, and this resulted in a caution. Tivvy struggled to make an imprint in the game and a speculative effort from Bradbury from distance, rode on the wind and grazed the back-netting, as it cleared the crossbar by a whisker, on the 20-minute mark. Six minutes later though, the Hawks’ pressure told. 

A stray pass didn’t reach it’s intended recipient and reacting quickest was Giwa-McNeil who stole in and finished past Burton. The 26^th minute second almost became Three, when a few minutes later Tivvy had Dean Moxey to thank for some strong defensive covering with Bradbury bearing down on goal. 

An enforced change with just over half an hour on the clock, saw Gabe Billington’s afternoon end prematurely through injury and Tor Swann was his replacement. Little had been seen of Tiverton as an attacking force, but in the 34^th minute we were given a lifeline. A miscommunication in Havant and Waterlooville’s backline exposed keeper Ben Dudzinski. Dan Koita nipped in, to intercept a weak pass and slotted home for his second of the season. In the 40^th minute the match saw another enforced change as impressive Brighton & Hove Albion loanee, centre back Matt Hayden, could take no further part for our hosts, limping out of the action. 

As half time approached, the Yellows found some rhythm to their play. Tor Swann neatly skipping away from a few challenges found Asa Hall who spread the ball nicely to Brooklyn Wilkins. The full back sent a searching ball down the wing for Swann to chase, but Leon Maloney ushered it out of play. Koita and Dudzinski then contested a cross where despite Koita’s physical presence the Hawk’s number one claimed well. The home side then countered, but a well-timed sliding intervention from Matt Wood ended their dangerous progress. 

A first chance of their own making was carved out by Tiverton, just before the Referee blew his whistle for half time. An excellent team move, began with Matt Wood picking out Toby Stephen’s, whose pass brushed from a Hawk’s player and onto Swann. His cross was met by a bullet-like header from Hall that whistled past the post, leaving our hosts in front at the break. Ending the half strongly will have made our management team’s talk a little easier, although there is no hiding away from the basic errors that are happening far too often, for their liking. 

The home team surged forward at the beginning of the Second period and some flowing, incisive attacking football, was ended by good handling from Burton with pressure on the ball. The blustery conditions played a part when Tiverton won a corner. Corey Koerner’s delivery held up on the wind and caused some panic at the near post, before it was dealt with. 

Finn Rooke was imposing himself on the game and his tussle with Brendan Wilson was a key battle in the second half, with Rooke winning his fair share of flick on’s and holding the ball up well. Good link up play in the 54^th minute saw Hall feed Swann. Though the Wide-man’s inviting ball in, was plucked out of the sky by Dudzinski. The Yellows continued to press, and Hall’s rifled shot was blocked in the area, sparking strong claims for handball. The official didn’t agree and play continued. The Hawks responded with Maloney playing Bradbury in, but his shot was screwed wide. 

A dominant spell followed for Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s men. Controlling possession and with some probing, flowing play through the team, Dean Moxey propelled a long throw into our opponent's box, and its threat forced a corner. From the ball in, both Jacob Wellington and Stephens fired goalwards in rapid succession in the 64^th minute, only for strong last-ditch blocks to prevent what would have been a deserved equaliser. Maloney then tried his luck from range for the hosts, though it was comfortable for Burton. 

In the 71^st minute Koita then latched onto a through ball, outpacing his marker. His stinging effort though produced a good parry from Dudzinski. Playing with a spring in his step, the forward once again advanced menacingly towards goal, but a defensive lunge prized the ball away from him. Substitutions followed with Koerner and Stephens, making way for Toby Down and Louis Jagger Cane. In the 76^th minute however, Havant and Waterlooville restored their two-goal cushion, when Reuben Swann applied the finishing touch to some neat approach play from our hosts. 

This though didn’t take the wind out of The Yellows sails and the busy Dudzinski then rushed out of his goal and challenged a Tiverton player in his box. This sparked loud appeals for a penalty, that were waved away. In the 78^th minute Louis Jagger Cane’s early contender for ‘Goal of the Season’, again fuelled hope of the team taking this tie to penalties. 

Positioning himself on the edge of the box and showing a technique befitting of a player playing at the highest level, his superb volley went past Dudzinski in a flash, disappearing into the net with the Hawks keeper clutching thin air. The Yellows’ inspired by this fine strike, came close to an equaliser a few minutes later, but Centre Back George Milner-Smith got a vital head on the ball, to stop the onrushing Rooke and Koita from scoring. 

Despite being the better side in the Second Half, it was the home side who scored the next goal. The Hawks opening up Tiverton all too easily with Pendlebury and Bradbury linking up. The latter moving the ball onto Maloney who emphatically lashed home. Far too much space was afforded to our hosts in the 84th minute. In spite of this, the Yellows remained spirited till the end of the game. During injury time, Koita was unable to continue and because the only remaining substitute was keeper John Ross, he took the number nine’s place in the closing minutes. 

So, another early exit in a cup competition for a Tiverton side that will need to quickly dust themselves off, as they’re back in action at The Slee Blackwell Stadium on Tuesday evening,  where seventh placed Poole Town will be the visitors. 

Defensive lapses, the majority of them happening in the early stages of matches are becoming characteristics of the team and this always puts us on the back foot. The players and the coaching staff are aware of this and will be doing all they can to stop these tendencies. The effort of the side can’t be faulted though and as always, our fans will be totally behind them, under the lights on Tuesday. 

Tiverton: George Burton, Brooklyn Wilkins, Corey Koerner (73), Toby Stephens (73), Matt Wood, Asa Hall, Dan Koita, Jacob Wellington, Gabe Billington (32), Finley Rooke, Dean Moxey.

Substitutes: John Ross (90), Toby Down (73), Tor Swann (32), Louis Jagger Cane (73).