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Richard Goddard competes with Havant &
Waterlooville's Gareth
Hall |
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| With both sides
languishing in their respective
corresponding leagues this FA
Cup match (2nd Qualifying Round)
would be a good test of league
strengths. Harrow's injury list
lengthened with the absence
of Davis Haule. Good conditions,
and a slight wind favouring
Harrow, saw most of the early
play in midfield.
Havant’s Haughton from
long range blasted over the
Borough bar and minutes later
drove a hard ground shot from
10 yards towards the left corner
of goal but Keita Karamoko dived
and superbly tipped around the
upright. Havant continued to
pressure but solid defending
marshalled by Phil Gridelet
and Dean Marney held the line.
Harrow pumped a high ball into
the home defence where Richard
Goddard controlled and in a
good scoring position had the
ball whipped of his feet by
Hall and back to the keeper.
From another high ball into
Havant’s half Goddard
picked up, shielded and worked
his way towards the corner flag
and dribbling in along the by
line evaded two lunging tackles
passed out the ball to the advancing
Chris Jones who blasted from
8 yards just missing the near
side top corner.
A poor clearance by the Havant
keeper fell to Goddard at the
edge of the box and his pass
fell to the marauding Fabio
Valenti who darting in from
the right flank swept the ball
past the advancing keeper just
missing the far upright. Havant
went back to possession play
and were rewarded with shots
from Champion and Davis going
close and then Wood sweeping
goal bound shot from a run on
the left flank being headed
over the bar by Borough’s
Pat Gavin.
The second half saw Borough
against windier conditions,
but they opened brightly with
Ross Fitzsimon’s and Valenti
combining well to force a block
save by the Havant keeper and
the same two forced the keeper
to save again at the second
attempt. Then at 68 minutes
Daniel Dyer, Goddard and Valenti’s
inter-passing move along the
left flank resulted in a cross
to the unmarked Fitzsimon in
the centre who falling still
managed to sweep the ball over
the advancing keeper to open
Borough’s account.
Havant responded and shots
by Poate and Haughton were well
held by Karamoko. Then from
a Havant free kick on the right
flank the ball was swept into
a packed Borough defence and
James Taylor rose highest and
nodded in for the equaliser.
Havant continued to press forward
with a series of corner kicks
forcing Karamoko to punch out
and Gavin’s heading skills
called upon.
The tiring Marney got beaten
for pace by Wood on the left
who crossed the ball to Poate
in the middle who nodded down
to Taylor. He made room to the
left and swung a low shot past
Karamoko, Borough reacted with
Goddard heading over the bar
and the following move saw Goddard
pick up another pumped up ball
from defence and slot pass through
to Valenti in the middle and
with a clear chance to equalise
shot wide from inside the area.
Next Tuesday could have been
oh so different with Havant
coming for the replay but now
its Ryman league matters with
an away trip to highflying Aldershot.
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