Havant & Waterlooville FC

Friendly

Pompey secured a second pre-season friendly win in succession, but were made to work hard for their 2-1 victory at Westleigh Park.

Gareth Evans fired them ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time, only for former Blues triallist Roarie Deacon to draw the Hawks level.

It was Brett Pitman who came off the bench to grab a late winner, however, in front of a huge crowd of 3,500 sun-worshipping supporters.

There were three changes from the side that began the midweek rout of UCD in Dublin.

Ross McCrorie and James Bolton both missed out with knocks, while Jamal Lowe was also absent, as Ben Close, Anton Walkes and Evans all came in.

Anybody expecting another goal-fest was in for a disappointment, with chances at a premium during the opening stages on a warm afternoon.

A dangerous Walkes delivery was turned behind before it could reach Ronan Curtis at the back post, while an Evans free-kicvk cleared the crossbar.

The hosts were certainly not looking over-awed and an effort from Josh Taylor was deflected wide of Craig MacGillivray’s post.

Pompey’s keeper also made a regulation save to deny Andy Drury, as the game continued to drift along without much excitment.

The visitors created a fine chance on 28 minutes, however, and Ross Worner made an excellent stop to keep out Louis Dennis’ header from point-blank range.

Ellis Harrison then beat the Hawks number one to the ball, but the angle was tight for the summer signing and his cut-back was dealt with.

The striker was involved again just before the break and when he was brought down in the box by Dean Beckwith, referee Matt Russell pointed to the spot.

It was the skipper who stepped up to take the spot-kick, with EVANS slamming his effort straight down the middle to open the scoring.

There was still time for another opening before the interval, with Worner again doing well to keep out a fierce strike from Curtis.

Half Time

Havant & Waterlooville 0

Portsmouth 1

The second half got off to a livelier start, with Worner immediately having to get down to keep out Lee Brown’s free-kick.

A volleyed effort from Jonah Ayunga was then brilliantly dealt with by MacGillivray, as the Hawks tried to find a leveller.

But the action soon switched ends once more and Curtis almost caught Worner out at his near post after neatly stepping inside.

It was the home fans who were celebrating on 56 minutes, though, when substitute Chris Paul teed-up Deacon for a neat finish into the bottom corner.

The usual curse of the pre-season friendly soon followed, with a wave of substitutions for both sides stemming the flow of the contest.

Another brief interruption was caused by a fan who ran on to the pitch to request a selfie with Christian Burgess, who obliged, and MacGillivray, who sternly ordered him off the pitch.

It was two of Pompey’s newcomers who combined for their winner on 80 minutes, with Brandon Haunstrup doing well down the left and providing the assist for PITMAN to slot home.

Hawks (4-1-2-1-2): Worner (Latham 58); Read (Tarbuck 58), Beckwith (Cook 60), Magri, Straker; Bailey (Paul 46); Taylor (Dennett 65), Fogden (c); Drury (Walton 46); Deacon (Ridge 83), Ayunga
Goals: Deacon 56

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Walkes (Burgess 73), Downing, Raggett, Brown (Haunstrup 70); Naylor (Morris 70), Close; Evans (c) (Hancott 84), Dennis (Cannon 70), Curtis (Pitman 70); Harrison
Goals: Evans 44 (pen), Pitman 80
Subs not used: Bass, Mnoga, Dandy, Bridgman, Teggart, Stanley

Referee: Matt Russell

Attendance: 3,500

A (2-1) Havant & Waterlooville

2018/2019, Match Report No Responses »

Jul 072018

Friendly

Conor Chaplin grabbed a late winner as Pompey fought from behind to beat Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.

Alfie Pavey had fired the National League outfit ahead from the penalty spot, only for Nathan Thompson to find a quick leveller.

And substitute Chaplin ensured the Blues would leave with a victory by taking his pre-season tally to three goals.

Kenny Jackett fielded a different 11 in each half, as he had done at Cork earlier in the week.

The Hawks fielded a raft of familiar names, including Paul Robinson – also employed as a coach at Fratton Park – Nicke Kabamba and Wes Fogden.

The game started at a relatively leisurely pace, not surprising considering the scorching conditions.

Recent Hawks signing Pavey attempted an audacious shot from 40 yards in the early stages, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

At the other end, a corner from Gareth Evans was only partially cleared and Tom Naylor drilled wide of the post.

It looked like the deadlock would be broken on 11 minutes following a neat one-two between Ronan Curtis and Brett Pitman, only for a fine Jordan Rose challenge to deny the former.

There were further half-chances for Evans and Lee Brown, as the Blues looked to move through the gears.

Brian Stock might have opened the scoring for the hosts, however, sending the ball drifting over from just inside the Pompey half after MacGillivray had ventured from his box to head clear.

But much of the action was taking place at the opposite end and the non-league side survived an almighty scramble inside their area.

Instead the Hawks took the lead from the penalty spot on 30 minutes, with referee Dean Treleaven –after being instructed by his assistant – deciding that Matt Clarke had fouled Kabamba.

It was Pavey who stepped up to take the spot-kick and he confidently sent MacGillivray the wrong way.

Not that the Blues were behind for long, as THOMPSON strode into the box before arrowing a shot into the bottom corner.

Pitman also had the ball in the back of the net before the break, although the skipper was denied by a linesman’s flag.

Robinson then came to the Hawks’ rescue, making a vital block when Jamal Lowe turned Lee Brown’s delivery towards the target.

Half Time

Havant & Waterlooville 1

Portsmouth 1

For the second friendly in succession, Jack Whatmough was handed the captain’s armband for the second half side.

Hawks then made their 11 changes a few minutes after the restart and it understandably affected the flow of the contest.

Oli Hawkins almost headed Pompey into the lead when he met Dan Smith’s centre, only for Ryan Young’s fingertips to come to the Hawks’ rescue.

His replacement Ben Dudzinski then made relatively comfortably stops to deny Ben Close and Conor Chaplin.

It was the turn of the hosts to threaten on 68 minutes and Luke McGee got down well to keep out Alfie Rutherford’s drive.

Whatmough soon showed why he played in defence, taking a swipe at thin air when Close picked him out unmarked in the box.

And Dudzinski flung himself to the right to keep out Adam May’s fierce effort, with the visitors starting to dominate.

Chaplin was next to try his luck after being teed-up by Close, launching a fine volleyed strike that fizzed narrowly past the post.

And it was CHAPLIN who bagged the winner in the closing stages, steering the ball past Dudzinski’s grasp and into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Hawks (3-5-2): Young (Dudzinski 56); Strugnell (Harris 56), P.Robinson (Woodford 56), Rose (Molyneaux 56); Tarbuck (Whittingham 56), Stock (c) (Ridge 56), Fogden (Lewis 56), Carter (A.Robinson 56), Huggins (Tuttle 56); Kabamba (Rutherford 56), Pavey (Triallist 56)
Goals: Pavey 30 (pen)

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray (McGee 46); Thompson (Smith 46), Burgess (Casey 46), Clarke (Whatmough 46), Brown (Haunstrup 46); Naylor (Read 46), Rose (May 46); Evans (Close 46), Lowe (Dennis 46), Curtis (Chaplin 46); Pitman (c) (Hawkins 46)
Goals: Thompson 34, Chaplin 84
Subs not used: Mnoga, Johnston

Referee: Dean Treleaven

Attendance: 1,608

Havant & Waterlooville FC
News – Promotion

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Apr 282018

Havant promoted to National League

Havant and Waterlooville will join the likes of Chesterfield, Hartlepool United, Leyton Orient and Wrexham in The National League next season after Jason Prior’s 89th minute goal sealed promotion for the Hawks against Concord Rangers.

The Hawks went into the break leading 2-0 courtesy of efforts from Theo Lewis and Matt Tubbs, with the latter scoring from an unusual source. But Concord came out fighting and determined in the second period and with around 10 minutes left in the game it was level at 2-2.

But up stepped Jason Prior in the 89th minute with the ball fed to him in the penalty area, one on one with the kepper he calmy slots the ball home and Westleigh Park went into fever pitch.

At Full-time the traditional pitch invasion took place with players and fans alike celebrating the league title together before the presentation which saw Brian Stock lift the coverted National League South trophy!

The Westleigh would then be buzzing afterwards for the End of Season awards and party with the players, such as Mike Carter and Ryan Woodford, acting as DJ’s for the night showing quality away from the field of play.

A (6-0) Havant & Waterlooville

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Jul 082017

Friendly

Chaplin bags treble in Westleigh Park rout

Conor Chaplin hit a hat-trick as Pompey continued their prolific pre-season form with a 6-0 thrashing of Havant & Waterlooville.

The rout began with a Lee Molyneaux own-goal, while the striker then ran riot with a treble before the interval.

He also teed-up Kal Naismith to add to the advantage early in the second half, while Curits Main wrapped things up from the penalty spot.

Tareiq Holmes-Dennis made his first appearance in a Pompey shirt following his loan signing from Huddersfield earlier in the week.

The hosts named former Fratton midfielder Wes Fogden in their starting line-up, but Matt Tubbs missed out with an injury.

It was a hot and sunny afternoon at Westleigh Park, but that did not stop the first half from being played at a hectic pace.

And it was the visitors who unsurprisingly looked the more threatening side throughout the opening 45 minutes.

They had already gone close on a couple of occasions when Kyle Bennett fired against the crossbar following some fine build-up play between Chaplin and Holmes-Dennis.

The woodwork came to the Hawks’ rescue again soon after, with Bennett this time having a shot deflected against the post.

There was a blow for Kenny Jackett’s side in between those chances, however, as Matt Clarke limped off the pitch injured.

But the breakthrough did finally arrive – albeit in somewhat farcical fashion – on 26 minutes.

Naismith’s corner caused havoc in the box and the ball eventually ricocheted off the unfortunate Molyneaux and into the net.

That was the signal for the floodgates to open and Pompey doubled their advantage just a few moments later.

Holmes-Dennis swung a delightful cross into the area from wide on the left and CHAPLIN was left with a simple finish at the far post.

The Hawks then had their best chance of the half with a quick counter-attack, but Alex Bass surged from his line to brilliantly deny Alfie Rutherford.

Pompey were not quite so profligate and CHAPLIN bagged his second of the afternoon on 39 minutes, collecting a ball down the line and cutting inside before smashing home a shot.

And CHAPLIN completed his hat-trick in stoppage-time with a first time finish into the bottom corner after being teed-up by Naismith.

Half Time

Havant & Waterlloville 0

Portsmouth 4

Pompey did not sit on their lead at the start of the second half and Chaplin was once again involved in their fifth goal.

The diminutive striker sent a dangerous low ball into the box from wide on the left, leaving NAISMITH with a simple tap-in.

A flurry of substitutes soon disrupted the flow, however, with Chaplin among those taking a well-earned rest.

But it was one of the players who came on that managed to add a sixth goal for the Blues on 76 minutes.

MAIN barged his way into the box and drew a foul from Alfie Whittingham, then picked himself up to slam home from the spot.

The visitors continued to threaten and Nicke Kabamba was inches away from connecting with Drew Talbot’s cross.

Milan Lalkovic then embarked on a mazy run through the Hawks defence before being denied by a fine save from substitute keeper Alan Walker-Harris.

But Lee Bradbury’s Hawks managed to see the remaining moments out to limit the damage in front of a healthy Westleigh Park crowd.

Hawks (3-5-2): Young (Walker-Harris 72); Woodford, Molyneaux (Wakley 64), Harris; Tarbuck, Lewis (c) (Whittingham 64), Carter (Stock 64 (Yokota 79)), Fogden (Ridge 64), Williams; Prior (Odubade 46), Rutherford (Hayter 46)
Sub not used: Robinson

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass; Evans (c) (Talbot 72), Burgess (Whatmough 72), Clarke (Davies 16), Holmes-Dennis (Haunstrup 46); May (Roberts 76), Rose (Close 57); Baker (Lowe 57), Naismith (Kabamba 72), Bennett (Main 72); Chaplin (Lalkovic 57)
Goals: Molyneaux 26 (og), Chaplin 30, 39, 45+1, Naismith 47, Main 74 (pen)
Sub not used: Collins

Referee: Alex Blake

Attendance: 2,700

A (5-0) Havant & Waterlooville

2016/2017, Match Report No Responses »

Jul 132016

Friendly

Blues ease to friendly victory

Carl Baker bagged a brace as Pompey hit five unanswered goals past non-league neighbours Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.

The midfielder struck either side of the interval to give the Blues a commanding lead after Gary Roberts had opened the scoring.

Trialist Noel Hunt and Curtis Main then both came off the bench to cap a comfortable victory for Paul Cook’s side.

There was good news for the hosts before kick-off, as they announced the return of former Pompey midfielder Wes Fogden on a two-year deal.

But it was the visitors who had most of the joy once the action belatedly got underway, following a 15-minute delay to allow all the fans to get into the ground.

Danny Rose and Conor Chaplin went close in the opening stages, with the pair both narrowly failing to find the target.

In between was the Hawks’ only decent chance of the evening, with a crisp effort from ex-Fratton youngster Bradley Tarbuck superbly tipped around the post by Michael Crowe.

And Pompey broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when Milan Lalkovic slid a fine pass through to ROBERTS, who neatly lifted the ball over keeper Ryan Young and into the net.

The Blues continued to dominate and Baker had a hat-trick of efforts – the first clearing the ground, the second fizzing narrowly over and the third hit straight at Young.

Rose was next to go close midway through the first half, firing into the side netting following good build-up play from Michael Doyle and Lalkovic.

Baker was not afraid to try his luck from distance and another attempt from the summer signing had to be pushed to safety by Young.

And his persistence paid off just before the break with a strike that was most definitely worth the wait.

BAKER picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and hit a stunning shot that flew in off the underside of the crossbar, leaving Young rooted to the spot.

Half Time

Havant & Waterlooville 0

Portsmouth 2

Pompey picked up where they left off after the restart and Young had to come charging from his line to stop Chaplin racing onto Lalkovic’s pass.

The Hawks keeper then kept out Lalkovic’s stinging drive, but was unable to stop the Blues from grabbing a third goal.

He could only parry the ball as far as Roberts, who cut it back for BAKER to tap home from just a couple of yards out.

The usual pre-season flurry of substitutions meant that chances began to dry up and the pace started to slow.

But two of those late arrivals managed to find the net and give the scoreline an added gloss for the visitors.

First trialist HUNT slid in to convert Enda Stevens’ low cross from wide on the left after the full-back had picked up Doyle’s raking pass.

Then, after Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain had stolen possession and seen his shot parried by Young, MAIN followed-up to poke home.

He almost scored again late on, but a thunderous effort from 30-yards hit the inside of the post and flew clear.

There was a bit of needle between Main and Ben Swallow late on that would normally have received a harsher punishment than the ticking off dished out by referee Dean Treleaven.

But that was a rare moment of petulance in a good-natured contest that saw the Blues continue their preparations for the 2016/17 campaign in fine style.

Hawks (4-4-2): Young (Searle 65); Strugnell (Miller 89), Woodford (Molyneaux 54), Robinson, Williams (Medway 65); Swallow, Lewis (Ridge 65), Stock (c) (Whittingham 84), Tarbuck (Barker 54); Prior (Hayter 65), Paterson (Rutherford 54)

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Crowe; Talbot (Sessegnon 74), Whatmough (Bradbury 85), Burgess (Barton 78), Stevens (Haunstrup 76); Rose (Widdrington 74), Doyle (c) (Bedford 74); Baker (Oxlade-Chamberlain 71), Roberts (Main 69), Lalkovic (Tollitt 60); Chaplin (Hunt 57)
Goals: Roberts 12, Baker 45, 56, Hunt 69, Main 73

Referee: Dean Treleaven

Attendance: 2,300

Havant & Waterlooville relegated

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Apr 302016

The Hawks were relegated after they failed to deliver the win they needed against Weston-super-Mare this afternoon.

Victory would have saved the Hawks as relegation rivals Margate lost, but in a disappointing second half they surrendered a first-half lead to the Seagulls as the game ended 1-1.

From being pre-season favourites they now face life in the Southern Premier League, if Lee Bradbury and Shaun Gale keep their jobs I for one will be very surprised

Havant & Waterlooville win Hampshire Senior Cup

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Apr 132016

The Hawks held their nerve to win the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time tonight, after beating gutsy Winchester City on penalties at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium.

Lee Bradbury’s side recovered from going a goal behind at the break to former Gosport man Andy Forbes’ effort as they avoided an upset thanks to Dan Strugnell’s late leveller.

With no extra-time to be played, it was straight to a shoot-out, where ruthless Hawks converted all five spot-kicks, with Ryan Young saving the first City penalty from Jamie Barron to give them victory.

Andy Robinson netted the decisive effort as the favourites triumphed 5-3 on penalties, with substitutes James Hayter and George Barker joining Scott Donnelly and Matt Paterson in converting from 12 yards.

Boss Bradbury, who led the Hawks to a first Hampshire Senior Cup triumph in four attempts, said: ‘It feels good to finally win the cup.

‘I felt we bossed the game only to find ourselves a goal down and chasing the game.

‘They made it hard for us and although we had a lot of possession we never really hurt them enough

‘We did that well and made better decisions in the second half and were a lot better higher up the pitch.

‘When we sent James Hayter and Ben Swallow on it turned the game.

‘Once it went to penalties we were great.

‘It is great for our confidence going into our massive league game at St Albans on Saturday.’

The Hawks had an early escape when Robinson got back to clear off the line after Adam Roberts rounded goalkeeper Young.

In response, Nic Ciardini skipped through the City defence before firing wide of the far post.

Donnelly then flashed a 30-yard free-kick narrowly past the post and did the same with another effort from the edge of the area.

But on 29 minutes the Southern League side took a shock lead, following a poor mistake by Theo Lewis in midfield.

Warren Bentley intercepted his crossfield pass and burst into the area.

Young kept his low shot out with his foot but Forbes reacted quickest to slide the loose ball into the net.

Ten minutes into the second period, Shamir Mullings volleyed wide at the far post after being picked out by a terrific Paterson cross.

With 20 minutes remaining, City goalkeeper Brendan Norris did well to keep out a fierce drive from substitute Hayter at the near post, with the veteran striker an instant threat.

The Hawks were piling the pressure on their visibly tiring opponents and it finally paid off seven minutes from time.

A lofted ball dropped to Strugnell inside the area and the defender drove the ball in from eight yards.

The full-time whistle signalled a penalty shootout with Bradbury’s men netting all five of their spot-kicks to claim trophy glory after Young had earlier saved from Barron.

Hawks: Young, Strugnell, Haran, Lewis, Robinson, Hill, Ciardini, Donnelly, Mullings, Paterson, Mitchell. Subs: Molyneaux, Swallow, Hayter, Barker, Cummings

Portsmouth FC
Transfer News – Romuald Boco

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Sep 152015

Romuald Boco

PompeyRama

Free Agent

Pompey have completed the signing of Romuald ‘Rommy’ Boco until the end of the season.

But the 30-year-old utility man – who is a Benin international – has gone straight out on loan to Havant & Waterlooville for a month.

He was most recently at Indian side Bharat, but has been training with the Blues for the past few weeks.

Boco has previously played under Blues boss Paul Cook at Sligo, Accrington and Chesterfield and he made 19 appearances for the latter last term.

A (1-1) Havant & Waterlooville

2015/2016, Match Report No Responses »

Jul 112015

Friendly

Doyle on target at Westleigh Park

Michael Doyle netted on his debut as Pompey drew 1-1 with Havant & Waterlooville in their opening friendly at a sunny Westleigh Park.

The visitors had to fight from behind after Adrian Clifton had emphatically headed home before the break.

The Blues looked more dangerous in the second half and Doyle’s finish ensured a share of the spoils.

Boss Paul Cook used 22 players to give most of his first-team squad a work-out against the National League South opposition.

New signings Adam Barton (groin) and Adam McGurk (thigh) were left out as a precaution, while triallists Connor Randall, Gareth Evans, Ben Davies and Theo Robinson were all given a chance to impress.

It was the Blues who were first to threaten with Evans whipping in a cross that Hawks keeper Ryan Young did well to claim.

Randall then found Tubbs in the box, with the striker’s deft flicked header flying inches past the post.

And Christian Burgess was almost an unlikely goal hero, waltzing past a couple of challenges before scuffing a shot straight at Young.

But it was hosts who broke the deadlock midway through the half when Clifton converted Ben Swallow’s free-kick with a bullet header that left Michael Poke helpless.

Pompey were trying to build patiently from the back and enjoyed plenty of possession, but they were not really troubling the Hawks defence.

Jayden Stockley and Tubbs did combine well on 35 minutes, only for the latter to scuff his shot wide.

The striker did do better just before the interval, but his snap-shot was beaten away to safety by Young.

Half Time

Havant & Waterlooville 1

Portsmouth 0

Cook made 10 changes at the break, with Burgess the only player to remerge after the interval.

And – after surviving an early scare when Matt Paterson fired narrowly wide – the new-boys soon began to take control.

It took a brilliant save from Young to deny Gary Roberts, with the keeper managing to divert his shot over the crossbar.

But DOYLE did level the scores on 48 minutes, driving home from the edge of the box after Kyle Bennett had diverted a corner into his path.

The midfielder almost grabbed another moments later, just failing to find the target following a neat pass from Conor Chaplin.

It was Bennett who was next to go close on 59 minutes, but his header was expertly tipped onto the bar by Young.

The Hawks were struggling to remain on level terms, although they were almost gifted a goal when Adam Webster hit a free-kick back to Paul Jones and the ball bobbled just wide.

But Roberts then almost netted at the right end and Roberts really should have found the target following a mazy run from Theo Robinson.

The action started to wind down after such a frenetic opening, although it was still the visitors looking most likely to add to the scoring.

But they were unable to find another goal as the game petered towards its conclusion.

Hawks: Young (c); Strugnell (Medway 77), Molyneaux (Saunders 46), Harris (Dutton 46), Cummings (Blanchett 46); Swallow (Mullings 46), Donnelly (Kimber 77), Stock (Ridge 86), Ciardini (Gale 46); Clifton (Paterson 46), Morgan (Hayter 46)
Goals: Clifton 21

Pompey: Poke (Jones 46); Randall (Davies 46), P.Robinson (c) (Webster 46), Burgess (Nilsen 77), Haunstrup (Stevens 46), Evans (Chaplin 46 (Tollitt 86)), Atangana (Doyle 46), Hollands (Close 46), Naismith (Bennett 46); Stockley (Roberts 46), Tubbs (T.Robinson 46 (Hassan 86))
Goals: Doyle 48