Second half strikes from Jonah Ayunga, Alfie Rutherford and Ryan Seager saw Havant & Waterlooville see off a spirited Hadley side at Westleigh Park to take their place in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
On paper this was a very difficult game for the Essex Senior League visitors, up against a side who sat third in the Vanarama National South with only one defeat in twelve and coming off the back of a 4-1 win at runaway leaders Wealdstone last weekend.
Hadley though sit fifth in the ESL with only one defeat from seven games and knowing this is the FA Cup they knew if things could go their way then upsets are possible in this competition, known as ‘The Magic of the Cup’. The visitors had also come into this one off the back of victory too, so this was a positive leading into this game.
Havant had edged past Taunton Town at home in the last round to take their place here, whilst for visitors Hadley this was already their fifth FA Cup tie of the season after starting in the Extra Preliminary Round back in early August. They had dispatched fellow ESL sides Redbridge and Hoddesdon Town before seeing off Arlesey Town and then Step Four side Ramsgate in the last round.
But this was a huge step up in class in Havant & Waterlooville but apart from a couple of headers sent wide of the visitor’s net, the opening quarter of an hour was fairly encouraging for the underdogs.
The Hawks though did see more openings, seeing two more headers go close and a deflected effort go just over the crossbar, and then another chance hit the side netting. Hadley’s only effort at goal was a wild long-range effort that flew well wide, however, it remained goalless after half an hour.
The hosts then went close with yet another header, but Hadley were not sitting back in this one and were attacking at any opportunity and sent a dangerous cross into the hosts box, but this flew away for a goal kick.
And then came a spell that saw the visitors almost stun the hosts by taking the lead when an effort from outside the box deflected just wide of the Hawks goal, and the home side knew they were in a contest. The home side tried to counteract this by forcing a save from the keeper, whilst they glanced another header wide. You could see the visitor’s confidence growing as the game went on though and Havant were looking frustrated too.
Just before the break Hadley had a huge shout for a handball inside the box, which the officials waved way, whilst Havant saw an effort struck straight at the keeper, but it did mean the sides went into the break goalless and Hadley would have been very happy at how the game had gone so far.
Half Time Havant & Waterlooville 0 Hadley 0
So, could the visitors frustrate the home side in the second half too, well sadly no, as just four minutes into the second period the Hawks broke through as a loose ball fell to Ayunga and he powered an effort in off a defender and Hadley’s resistance had been broken.
Hadley did break down the other end soon after this and slice an effort well wide, but Havant smelt blood and had three or four chances to double that lead but did eventually find the net again in the 55th minute when a lovely ball clipped towards the back post found Rutherford totally unmarked from a yard out and he couldn’t miss and the hosts were now two goals to the good.
Hadley needed to dig deep now as they were in danger of being blown away now, but they had been backed by a number of Hadley Bricks, congregated behind the goal they were attacking, and they had sung their hearts out all game and were a credit to their club. So, this would have helped their cause in this game.
And apart from a close range header going straight at the keeper the visitors managed to weather the storm and limit chances created by the hosts, and they even glanced a header wide themselves as they continued to try and find a goal to get back into this contest.
Havant though were always in control of this second half, especially after those two early goals after the break, and with nine minutes to go added a third goal when a header back across goal was rammed home by Seager, and they were now well and truly on the way to the next round.
Hadley were now looking tired after putting in one heck of a shift, and the Hawks were threatening a fourth, and they did hit the woodwork twice in stoppage time but the three goals they did score in the second period proved enough for them to progress.
Congratulations to the home side, who remained patient and didn’t loose their cool after a frustrating opening half, and a huge well done to Hadley who did themselves and the ESL proud in this one. They can take a massive number of positives from this into their league campaign now as they gun for promotion to the Isthmian League.
Full Time Havant & Waterlooville 3 Hadley 0
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