In the opening minutes, both sides were settling in and trying to find their rhythm. It was a slow start, with neither team able to create anything of note early on. Both sides were cautious as they tried to figure each other out.

Callum Kealy showed some neat footwork in the box, turning sharply before getting his shot away. However, a fantastic save from the Tiverton goalkeeper kept the scores level. From the resulting corner, Ryan Seager found himself in space inside the six-yard box, but again the Tiverton keeper was equal to the task, making another brilliant save to deny the Hawks.

It wasn’t until the 37th minute that the breakthrough came. Laidlaw’s well-delivered corner found Kealy in the box, who made no mistake to make it 1-0. The goal marked Kealy’s third in his last four games, continuing his strong form.

Just before the break, Tiverton Town responded. A speculative long-range shot forced Hawks’ keeper Dudzinski to dive low and parry the ball out. As the ball fell to a Tiverton player in the box, Stanley was on hand to make a crucial block and clear the danger. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the following corner saw a volley from Tiverton’s Asa Hall that flew past Dudzinski, bringing the scores level at 1-1 just before the interval.

In the final seconds of the half, Keane Anderson had a chance to restore the lead for the Hawks with a strike, but the Tiverton goalkeeper was quick to react, tipping the shot around the post. From the resulting corner, Brendan Wilson rose highest to meet the ball, but his header just drifted past the far post, and the teams went into the break level.

HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-1 TIVERTON TOWN

The second half started with more of the same attacking intent from the Hawks, and in the 58th minute, Laidlaw almost put the visitors back in front with a powerful shot from outside the box. The ball cracked off the crossbar, much to the relief of the Tiverton defence.

Shortly after, the Hawks regained the lead. Kealy, showing great composure, took the ball around the keeper and squared it to Seager, who calmly slotted the ball home to make it 2-1.

Tiverton came close to an equaliser with around 10 minutes left in the game when a cross deflected off Dockerill and toward his own goal. However, Dudzinski was alert to the danger, diving low to save and clear the ball.

In added time of the game the Hawks sealed the win. Reuben Swann showed great composure to control the ball before slotting it past the Tiverton keeper, securing a 3-1 victory for the Hawks.

A solid home performance from the Hawks, taking all 3 points. Next up for the Hawks is an away trip to Winchester City on Saturday.

FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 3-1 TIVERTON TOWN

Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Stanley, Austin, Atangana (C), Willson, Seager, Maloney, Kealy (Swann 87’), Dockerill, Anderson, Laidlaw

Unused Subs: Walker-Harris (GK), Aston, Tshaka, Paul

Cautions: Seager 90+4′

Goals: Kealy 37’, Seager 62’, Swann 90+5’

Tiverton Town: Duncan (GK), Kempster, Hall, Jones (Jenkins 21’), Thompson, Forkuo, Britton (C), Wright, Churchley (Bernard 58’), Jarvis (Swann 81’), Parker (Grubb 81’)

Cautions: Churchley 45+2′

Goals: Hall 43’

Player of the Match: Harvey Laidlaw