Havant clinch cup progress in Fareham thriller
By Connor Steel
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILE clinched further progress into the third round of the “Portsmouth Senior Cup” on Tuesday evening with a comfortable victory over Fareham Town; beating the Creeksiders five-three in this “thrilling exhibition” of knockout football at Westleigh Park as the visitors matched their higher league opponents before a brilliant come-back.
The Creeksiders made a lightening start and took the lead through Joe Johnson within sixty seconds; the striker calmly latching upon a deep pass by Tommy Carpenter and chipping the keeper for one-nil. This advantage was doubled after twelve minutes when Harley Stock ran forward before finding Matt Pates who fired home inside the bottom right corner.
The away dominance continued and Fareham nearly made it three-nil before the half hour mark; Charlie Cooper hitting over the crossbar from a tight angle and Sam Woodward firing wide. But Havant showed their quality on 29 minutes as they halved their deficit at a cleverly worked corner, which was flicked into the path of Yoan Zouma to head into the net.
Fareham responded excellently to their setback and quickly restored their two-goal advantage as a defensive ‘error’ fell kindly to Woodward, who spun his marker and drove home across the keeper for three-one. And this was how it stayed at the half time interval despite a period of sustained pressure from Havant; their best chance seeing an effort just over.
Graham Rix’s team should have made it four-one upon the restart but saw Johnson’s touch let him down when through on goal; a moment that completely changed the encounter. Within eight minutes Havant had scored their second of the night as Billy Stedman found space and cut inside quickly; the winger then nestling his low effort into the bottom corner.
The Creeksiders appeared shaken by this goal and were soon punished moments later as Havant equalised to make it three-apiece on fifty-five minutes; Zouma nodding home past away keeper Jordi Valero after another corner. And it was soon four-three for the hosts after 59 minutes with Stedman drifting into a space; his strike too powerful as it hit the net.
Substitutions followed across both outfits in a lengthy lull as Fareham attempted to force a shootout; Sam Kessack and Ethan Quinlan going the closest with varying efforts on target. Tiring bodies then became apparent and Havant took full advantage after 8 minutes of stoppage time; Jafer Mahammad-Kier rolling in the fifth and final home goal to end the tie.
The two teams will turn to league action on December 23 with Havant & Waterlooville set to make a lengthy trip to face Truro City in the National League South; whilst Fareham will travel across to play Cowes Sports. The Creeksiders then have a welcomed week off before hosting Petersfield Town on December 30; which will be their final action of this year.
PICTURED BY FAREHAM TOWN MEDIA: Away midfielder looks to move ball to teammate as Havant players back off.
