An unchanged Hawks side from Thursday night’s Pre-Season victory over Selsey took to the pitch at the Stanley Chase Stadium in Horndean with a tough test waiting in their Step 4 opponents.

Both teams fought hard in the early exchanges as the thunder rolled and rain fell on the grass with chances being created at either end but both defences made it hard to for the attacks to really test the Keepers at either end. Former Hawk Lloyd Thomas made a stunning save early on to tip a curling effort around the post from Leon Maloney. Thomas would continue to be the focal point of the opening exchanges making some strong saves.

On 14 minutes, Devante Stanley’s forward run was picked out before he was floored by the onrushing Thomas, leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Stanley was eventually back to his feet and the responsibility sat with Seager from 12-yards. Thomas spared his own blushes making the save from the spot-kick and the Hawks unable to convert on the rebound.

Horndean would push forward and ask questions of their own with Ben Dudzinski remaining relatively unchallenged barring a few simple saves. Kealy would have a chance to grab the first of the game going through on goal but as was the story of the game to that point, Thomas made the save. The next Hawks chance would fall the way of Seager as he wound up for an acrobatic strike but was unable to convert.

Harvey Bradbury, who had made a nuisance of himself to the Horndean defence all afternoon, would see his work rewarded in the 26th minute of the game. Thomas a long way from goal lost out to Bradbury, who hadn’t afforded the Horndean shot-stopper the time to control a bouncing ball, he set the ball back to Stanley in support. Devante whipped an inch perfect cross onto the foot of Seager to volley home opening the scoring.

The Hawks would double their lead just over 10 minutes later through defender Reuben Austin, his overlapping run saw him send what appeared to be a cross into the penalty area but while aiming for the back post, he expertly found the top corner with the ball rattling in the stanchion with the ball looping over Thomas’ outstretched arm.

Horndean would find the bottom corner to cut the deficit to 1 on the stroke of Half-Time as they capitalised on a swift forward move that the Hawks couldn’t deal with.

HALF TIME: HORNDEAN 1-2 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

A cagey start to the second half gave both sides the opportunity to make a flurry of substitutions before Leon Maloney found himself in the right place to benefit from a Horndean error. Having received the ball fairly unopposed, Maloney lifted the ball over a stranded Thomas to give the Hawks their third of the afternoon as the sun began to break through.

The second half saw far less cutting action than the first but the day of new signings grabbing their first Hawks’ goal continued. Harvey Laidlaw found himself on the end of an excellent ball into the area and struck his effort home with 15 left to play.

It looked like the Hawks might’ve had their 5th as Trialist B finished another strong Hawks move but the offside flag prevented his second goal in as many games.

FULL TIME: HORNDEAN 1-4 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

Havant and Waterlooville FC: Dudzinski (GK), Stanley (Aston 46′), Austin (Trialist A 55′), Atangana (Trialist B 57’), McNerney (Trialist C 57’), Willson (Trialist F 62’), Whittingham (Trialist G 62’, Austin 84′), Seager (Woolston 57’), Kealy (Trialist E 55’), Bradbury (Laidlaw 55’), Maloney (Kealy 80’)