Hawks Stall Concord - Havant And Waterlooville vs. Concord Rangers

There was a decent crowd for the play off six pointer

As it is getting in to the business end of the season, I tried to find a game that meant something and The Conference South match between Havant and Waterlooville and Concord Rangers meant a huge deal for both sides. Both sides were just outside of the play offs and a win for either team would put real pressure on the clubs above them. Both sides were in good form and the home team had beaten once leaders Bromley at home the previous weekend. I'd seen Concord Rangers several times and their games had always seemed to produce goals. When I visited Thames Road for an FA Trophy game against Harlow Town, I saw Concord throw away a two nil half lead to lose three two. The only time I'd seen Havant play was last season at Dover where the away side again came back from two goals down at half time but this time the game ended in a draw. The reverse fixture had also produced a lot of goals - a three three draw the previous month.  

Just before kick off

Concord have a half chance from a corner but in general in the opening stages, both sides are playing some neat football but they cannot find the final touch. This is exemplified when Havant break from a Concord corner and the final pass is just cut out by a defender. Havant come closer when a miss kick in the Concord defence lets Havant in and the defender is relived to the chance blasted wide. Havant almost play themselves in and the pass is again just cut out. Concord have another headed chance but the Havant keeper is able to claim the ball. Towards the end of the half both teams continue to lost the ball in good positions and the half end goalless.

Panic in the Concord box in the first half

Havant have a great chance at the start of the second half as the left winger robs the full back and the keeper has to tip the ball over the bar. Then from the following corner a Havant player heads the ball just over the bar. Concord almost create a one on one chance but the centre back makes a great headed interception to prevent the chance. The game is now beginning to open up and the Havant centre forward is able to barge through in to the box but the keeper is able to claim the ball as it looks like he would have been better squaring the ball. A Concord corner then causes confusion in the area and the Havant defence is eventually able to hack the ball away. Then comes the games turning point. Following a ball in to the box there is a slight delay and the referee points to the spot for an apparent push. The Concord players are livid and the Havant player shows no sympathy as he smashes the ball home. Concord now go for broke and a driven cross is headed away. Shortly afterwards the Havant keeper has to tip over a viscous free kick. In the dying seconds Havant are reduced to ten men but they see out the rest of the game to claim a vital three points.

Covered standing down one side of the pitch

Havant is reached by trains departing from Waterloo and the fast trains take just over an hour and a quarter. In the town centre I visited The Old House At Home which was a great pub which had the lunch time kick off on TV. The ground is about a half hour walk from the town centre and about half way is The Curlew which is a good stopping point. The clubhouse is a pub next to the ground and it is a very good pubs. It had several ales on tap as well as the football on TV. While I was waiting for my train I popped in to The Six Bells which had a great atmosphere.

The programme was one of the best I have seen at this level. There was a lot of reading including a couple of detailed match reports from recent matches.

Another view of the stand

For an alternative viewpoint of the match, check out the fantastic Destination Havant 'Ville Departing Waterloo  blog.

Yet more bloody clouds