Matches

HAWKS GET A TASTE OF RED HOT STU by Carol Smith-Allen

Twenty plus die hard Grays fans made the two hour journey, on a rather cold Monday evening to West Leigh Park to watch Blues give a gritty performance on an atttrocious pitch to defeat Havant and Waterlooville, who are fighting for survival near the foot of the table. A brilliant late strike from Stuart Thurgood gave Blues another vital win, moving them fifteen points clear at the top of the table, and more than likely left the Hawks feeling a bit hard done by.

The game started on an even keel with both teams having early chances. Within the first minute of play Griffiths, in space in the middle attempted to set up John Martin, but the striker over hit the through ball enabling Hawks keeper Gareth Howells to clear.

The home side then appealed for a penalty kick after forward James Taylor was ‘alledgedly’ fouled in the area. Referee Mr. Chris Salt thought otherwise, and play continued. The opposition did have a good chance to open the scoring four minutes later though, when Ashley Bayes saved from ex-Spurs midfielder Darren Caskey’s low 8 yard drive.

In the 18th minute the home side took the lead. Ex-Wimbledon and Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth connected with Taylor’s through ball, but was impeded by Lee Matthews, and this time Mr. Salt did point to the spot. Matthews was subsequently shown the yellow card, and Holdsworth stepped up to take the penalty kick, sending Bayes the wrong way with a low strike into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Hawks midfielder Shaun Wilkinson then sent a 25 yard effort over the bar, whilst at the other end good interplay by Nutter and Griffiths saw keeper Howells tip the left-back’s 25 yard shot over the cross bar and out for a corner.

Blues continued to push forward looking for an equalizer, and just after the half an hour mark it arrived. Dean Brennan’s through ball found the lively Griffiths, who took it around the up until now solid Havant defence, and drove the ball across Howells and into the far corner of the net.

At this point play was suspended for fifteen minutes due to one of the linesmen having pulled a muscle.

The match resumed with the injured official having been replaced, but the game then went into a bit of a lull, although minutes before the interval Grays had a golden opportunity when Griffiths squared the ball to Brennan, but the midfielder hesitated and rifled his shot over the bar.

Second half play saw the Hawks relying on heavy-handed tactics to play Grays out of the game, and Blues applying more pressure than in the first period, but finding it increasingly difficult to penetrate the home defence. As a result of which the referee, who made some bizarre decisions at times, was waving cards like they were going out of fashion!

Within minutes of the re-start ex-Pompey defender Robbie Pethick was cautioned for a bad tackle on Martin, and on 50 minutes Blues came close when Nutter’s dipping cross evaded Howells but hit the crossbar as the keeper back-peddled.

Almost immediately, Bayes was called into action making an easy save from Caskey’s long range strike, and then both Jamie Stuart and Wilkinson were booked for bad challenges.

On the hour and against the run of play, Hawks squandered a great opportunity. A four-man move led to Holdsworth blasting over the bar from close range, when it looked easier to put the ball in the back of the net.

Five minutes later, Wilkinson received his second yellow card for a foul on Joe Bruce, and the home side found themselves reduced to ten men for the second game running. This incident sparked a ten man brawl, as a result of which Bruce was also cautioned.

Grays then made two substitutions within ten minutes of each other. Firstly bringing on Mitchell Cole for Martin, and then replacing Brennan with Dennis Oli. These changes gave Blues more width, whilst Hawks now got everyone behind the ball and tried to hold on for a point.

In between substitutions John Nutter, who can consider himself to be most unfortunate, received his first ever booking for throwing the correct ball back to one of the Hawk’s players, who in turn insinuated that the Grays player had deliberately thrown the ball at his face.

As Blues applied pressure, the Hawk’s defence held firm, and the closest Grays came to scoring was a 25 yard drive from England International Thurgood, which went inches wide of the post.

Then in the first minute of time added on the home side failed to clear a cross, and the loose ball fell to Thurgood who struck an absolutely stunning 25 yard half volley, which curled into the back of the net clipping the angle on it's way, and leaving dismayed keeper Howells no hope.

Teams:-
Havant & Waterlooville:- Howells, Pethick, Poate, Champion, Jordan, Sharp, Wilkinson, Caskey, Taylor, Holdsworth, Campbell Subs:- Jones, Blake, Byles, Town, Gordon
Grays Athletic:- Bayes, Bruce, Nutter, Stuart, Matthews, Thurgood, Brennan, Hooper, Griffiths, West, Martin Subs:- Oli, Powell, Battersby, Cole, Emberson

Referee:- Mr. C. Salt

Attendance:- 339

Headline provided by TwiTchY

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