A final game to end a busy January saw the Hawks travel to Wiltshire to take on Chippenham Town with both sides vying for a vital 3 points, it was set up to be a tough match for both sides.
The Hawks would start the game the brighter of the two sides, with Ryan Seager hitting the post with a cushioned volley just 7 minutes into the tie. The pressure from the Hawks would continue in the early exchanges of the game with Spence linking up with Kealy and the former looking to test Henry in the Bluebirds net but unable to beat him.
The visitors would have the ball in the net on the quarter of an hour mark through Fasanmade after he found himself in acres of space but the offside flag was raised to deny the hosts the lead.
A succession of Hawks chances would follow in ahead of the half hour mark. Seageron the break forward, Roberts linking up with Kealy who looked to find the top corner and Deacon striking from range all being kept out by Henry. It was a continued pressure on the Chippenham goal but somehow the scores remained deadlocked.
Another opportunity would come and go for the Hawks as Roberts was able to pick out Jewitt-White in a fast move up the field. He looked to find the top corner, but his effort flew just over the bar.
A solo run from Caine Bradbury would break the deadlock as the Bluebirds won the ball and looked to punish. Bradbury carried the ball forwards evading challenges and striking into the bottom corner to send the hosts ahead very much against the run of play.
Looking to find a way back level before the interval, the Hawks would see another set of chances come and go with Roberts having a headed effort caught by Henry. Deacon wound up a strike once more, this time taking a deflection on it’s way through but Henry was equal to it.
Deep into First Half stoppage time, the Hawks had huge appeals for Handball waved away by the referee as Roberts looked to cross into the area with numbers waiting in the middle to convert.
HALF TIME: CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1-0 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE
The second half would start in similar fashion to the first with the Hawks on top and looking to punish. Henry once more on hand to deny Morgan this time from a set-piece. Immediately following this the Hawks would find themselves on the ball high up the field. Roberts found Kealy who drove at goal but was unable to test Henry with his strike.
Pressure would continue as the Hawks looked to draw level with Kealy battling with Hewlett but Henry remained unbeaten. Jewitt-White would look to involve himself once more as he wound up an effort from outside of the area which flew just over the bar.
Ticking towards the closing 10 minutes of the game, Seager would strike a freekick at goal. For a moment it looked like the deflection was taking it goalwards but in the end a corner which was well dealt with by the hosts.
It was relentless play from the Hawks as still they searched for the leveller. Roberts would get himself into a strong position but strike over. Minutes later, the best chance of the second half would fall to Ben Morgan who rose highest to meet a Jebb corner but from close range he couldn’t find the target.
Corners would continue to come for the Hawks and Chippenham would have 11 back in the box each time but the defence did their job and kept the attacks out.
In the final minutes of added time the Hawks would see two chances to pull the game all square late on. Ryan Seager would latch onto the end of a low ball into the box but his effort ending up the wrong side of the post. A final roll of the dice from Kealy winning a corner would see Worner sent up for a corner. The ball swung into the area dealt with by the hosts and ending the Hawks chances of a point that would’ve been the least the Hawks deserved after dominating the tie.
FULL TIME: CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1-0 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE
Chippenham Town: Henry, Jones, Grant, Hewlett, Williams, Johnson, Owen-Evans (McClure 66), Spokes, King, Bradbury (Evans 89’), Fasanmade (Williams 87’)
Unused Subs: Mehew, Ellison
Havant & Waterlooville: Worner, Stanley, Innocent, McNerney, Morgan, Seager, Jewitt-White, Kealy, Deacon (Jebb 70’), Roberts, Spence (Donkor 66)
Unused Subs: Zouma, Bunga, Baker