County fielded a
familiar line-up
with Dean
Holdsworth
recalled to the
attack against
his former club
and Kris Leek
selected in
place of the
injured Lee
Collier.
The first half
was devoid of
quality football
and the sides
had to compete
with a swirling
wind as well as
each other.
County came
close through a
Jason Bowen
volley tipped
over the bar by
Shane Gore and a
shot from Dean
Holdsworth saved
by the
dependable Gore
low to his
right.
The hosts had
recorded the
only goal of the
half, courtesy
of a Tom Jordan
header from a
poorly defended
in-swinging
corner from
Shaun Wilkinson
in the 17th
minute, until
Bowen won and
converted a
penalty in the
final minute
much to the
consternation of
the home crowd
who felt the
winger had gone
over too easily
having been
played in by the
trickery of
Craig Hughes.
Both sides
needed to raise
their game in
the second half
to press their
claims for a
play off
position. The
Hawks did and
County did not.
Top scorer Rocky
Baptiste won a
corner with a
deflected shot
in the 67th
minute. The
unmarked
Baptiste ran
across the face
of the goal to
meet the
incoming cross
and glance the
ball across
Ovendale into
the far corner
of the net for a
poorly conceded
crucial goal.
The Hawks sensed
victory and with
County offering
no resistance
scored a third
and victory
confirming goal.
Tony Taggart was
allowed to cut
in from the
right and from
22 yards drilled
a low shot past
the outstretched
hand of Ovendale.
County did not
have a
meaningful
effort on target
in the whole of
the second half
and were a
shadow of the
team which
promised so much
earlier in the
season.
Line Ups:
County: Ovendale,
Jenkins, Searle,
Davies, Brough
(C), Hillier,
Bowen, Leek,
Holdsworth
(Griffin 73),
Hughes, Evans
(O’Sullivan 78)
Subs Not Used:
Giles, Edwards,
Prosser
Havant: Gore,
Warner, Sharp,
Sedgemore,
Jordan (C),
Byles, Collins
(Simpson 87),
Wilkinson, Louis
(Watkins 81),
Baptiste,
Taggart (Poate
81) Subs Not
Used: Annon,
Howells
Goals:
County: Jason
Bowen (44)
(penalty)
Havant: Tom
Jordan (17),
Rocky Baptiste
(67) and Tony
Taggart (77)
Cautions:
Havant:
Jefferson Louis
(foul) and Rocky
Baptiste (foul)
Officials:
Referee: John
Farries
(Oxfordshire)
Assistants:
Baris Erguven
and Tim Robinson
Attendance:
681
Conditions:
Dry, sunny and
cold, windy
Man of the
Match:
Reporter’s
County Man of
the Match: Craig
Hughes
Reporter’s
Havant Man of
the Match: Shaun
Wilkinson
Match Rating:
2/5
