The day started badly for Peter Beadle, but if he thought the morning’s misfortunes were already disappointing enough, matters were to grow progressively worse.  Yet for an hour of this encounter there were no complaints from either the County manager or the substantial travelling support that accompanied the side to Hampshire as County forgot the desperately disappointing defeats in their last two home games.

The first sad news was Mark Dodds suffering a bereavement which prevented him travelling, and then Paul Cochlin and Craig Hughes reported suffering knee pains which was to rule out both, while Ian Hillier failed a fitness test he had been expected to pass.  So a planned travelling squad of 18 was whittled down to 14, and County were able to name only three substitutes including goalkeeper Glyn Thompson who has been ruled out of the last six games through injury.

Beads opted for the aerial threat posed by Julian Alsop and Jermaine Clarke in attack with Sam O’Sullivan joining Charlie Griffin as the only outfield substitute option.  There were no negative thoughts though as County chose to kick up the slope into the wind in the first half in which they clearly edged the game with some neat interpassing and Lee Fowler and Jason Bowen both prominent.  Clarke threatened with a break after seven minutes but when Kevin Scriven blocked his shot, Alsop seemed to take the wrong option when choosing to stoop and head the rebound from 18 yards with the home keeper comfortably gathering the ball.

Andy Gurney dropped back into defence to fill the gap alongside Lee Jarman, which might have been occupied by Cochlin, Hillier or Dodds, and his slip on nine minutes presented a chance which the prolific Rocky Baptiste squandered.  But it was County who looked the better side and in the 13th minute a Bowen cross from the right was met by Alsop but blocked by Scriven.  The twin strike force of Clarke and Alsop were doing their best but County were looking short of a natural scorer, and Bowen looked the likeliest bet, though he was denied by the feet of Scriven on 39 minutes with as good a chance as County had created so far.  A home free-kick on the edge of the box just before half-time had County nerves jangling, but Havant decided to complicate matters and Henry’s eventual shot was well held by the diving Tony Pennock.

The only concern for the Amber Army was that the blank score did not reflect County’s promising first half display in which Fowler was the only player to receive a card from referee Carl Berry who punished his late challenge on Charlie Henry.  He was joined in the notebook by home left-back Brett Poate in an impressive piece of officiating as the referee allowed a good advantage before issuing the card to the Havant defender who had been unsuccessful in trying to foul Bowen.  Jarman forced a save from Scriven with a header from County’s first corner on 58 minutes, but it was a poor piece of communication from the defender two minutes later which set up the attack leading to the game’s first goal.

Havant were able to get players forward into space after the centre back was caught out of position and after some desperate efforts to clear, HENRY was able to net an easy goal to add to some impressive strikes against County when in the colours of both Cambridge City and Dorchester.  The County boss almost immediately replaced Alsop with Griffin who failed to make good contact with a shot on the turn moments after his entry.  However, in the 66th minute County were embarrassed when Baptiste was able to get goal side of Gurney who pulled down the Hawks striker leaving the referee no choice but to show a red card to the defender and award a penalty which BAPTISTE scored with ease.

County reverted to a three man defence and after Richard Evans forced a diving save from Scriven from 25 yards, the away support wanted the game to end as quickly as possible as Havant created and missed chances that could have significantly improved their goal difference.  The Hawks, who had found it difficult in the first hour, now demonstrated exactly how to play against 10 men and had the home fans cheering some slick movement, with Baptiste, Craig Watkins and substitutes Gavin McCallum and Jamie Slabber all having opportunities to increase the victory margin.

So it was not the happiest of Easters for County fans but Beads to his credit faced up to a group of fans in the car park after the match to deal with their concerns.  Havant supporters went home happy that their play-off bid is on track, but County are only a point adrift of the Hawks, and it is now Saturday’s trip to Bognor Regis Town which must take priority.

Man of the Match

Havant: Jamie Collins - dominated midfield in the last half hour.

County: Damon Searle - a strong presence when County held the upper hand.

Special mention: Nathan Davies - never gives up even when not in his best form.