It was an uneventful opening 10 minutes to the game, with both teams trading possession and little action in the final third.

The Hawks sparked into life when Leon Maloney tried his luck with an ambitious shot from a wide area, but his effort clipped the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

Harry Sidwell then did well to lose his man delivering a dangerous cross into the box. Harvey Bradbury managed to get a shot off, but it was blocked before it could trouble the Marlow goalkeeper.

The Hawks’ pressure paid off when Callum Kealy raced towards the goal and took a shot from a tight angle, forcing the Marlow keeper into a save leading to a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Brendan Wilson headed the ball down and Bradbury was on hand to put the ball in from close range to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Soon after, the Hawks were back on the attack again when Bradbury’s shot from outside the box was deflected onto the crossbar. The corner that followed saw Joe McNerney’s volley blocked, but Nigel Atangana was there to convert the rebound and double the lead for the Hawks.

Another corner led to a great chance for Havant. Captain McNerney was there again to meet the ball with a powerful header, only to be denied by a great save from the Marlow keeper.

Just before the end of the half, Keane Anderson was given space to control the ball on the edge of the area. He struck an excellent shot that beat the Marlow goalkeeper, giving the Hawks a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the break.

HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 3-0 MARLOW

Much like the first half, the second half began slowly, with neither team able to create many clear-cut chances.

Marlow thought they had pulled one back when the ball was put in the net, but the goal was disallowed as the linesman’s flag had already gone up for offside.

Midway through the second half the Hawks broke through the Marlow defence and Sidwell fired a shot from a tight angle at the keeper’s near post. The Margate goalkeeper, who had made several fine saves throughout the match, made a mistake as the ball slipped through his gloves, allowing the Hawks to extend their lead to 4-0.

The visitors managed to get on the scoresheet with a consolation goal late in the game, reducing the deficit to 4-1.

Ryan Seager managed to add one more in added time as Whittingham unselfishly passed the ball across the goal to the number 9 for an easy tap-in.

Another five goals at home for the Hawks, securing a dominant 5-1 win over Marlow. First-half goals from Bradbury, Atangana, and Anderson put the Hawks in a strong position. Sidwell and Seager added in the second half to make it a comfortable evening. Next up for the Hawks is away at Sholing on Saturday.

FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 5-1 MARLOW

Attendance: 634

Player of the Match: Keane Anderson

Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Atangana (Whittingham 67’), McNerney (C), Willson, Bradbury (Seager 67’), Maloney (Swann 77’), Kealy (Lee 86’), Sidwell, Dockerill (Paul 71’), Anderson, Laidlaw

Cautions: Sidwell 79’

Goals: Bradbury 23’, Atangana 29’, Anderson 45+2’, Sidwell 71’, Seager 90+3’

Marlow: Watkins (GK), Oladunjoye, Masters, Ovenden, Salmon, Mulley (Curtis 66’), Hoath, Boorn (Jallow 75’), Harper (Akinnibi 75’), Hamilton-Olise (Tarpey 58’), Sani (Nawaf 58’)

Cautions: Oladunjoye 40’, Ovenden 58’, Curtis 84’, Oladunjoye 89’

Red Cards: Oladunjoye 89’

Goals: Tarpey 81’

Report By: Alex McNeice