The match began quietly with the opening stages seeing little in terms of clear-cut chances. However, the Hawks were dominating the possession and trying to create chances.
The Hawks came close to breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute. Callum Kealy slipped a clever ball through to Whittingham, who burst down the channel. Whittingham then sent a dangerous ball across goal to Seager, but his shot was blocked away for a corner by a Dorchester defender.
A few minutes later it was Stranley’s turn to test the Dorchester defence. He drove towards the goal after finding space, but the legs of the Dorchester keeper blocked his shot.
Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors took the lead with their first real attack of the match. A cross into the box found Gwengwe who scored from close range. Despite Havant’s dominance in possession, it was the visitors who found the breakthrough.
The Hawks responded well to the setback and were level just before the break. Atangana delivered a brilliant ball from the outside of his boot, finding Ryan Seager, who had timed his run perfectly. Seager kept his composure and slotted the ball past the Dorchester goalkeeper to make it 1-1 going into the second half.
HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-1 DORCHESTER TOWN
The second half was mainly uneventful with little chances and not much quality in the final third. The closest the Hawks came to taking the lead was in the 60th minute, when a ball from Austin found Seager in the box. Seager had a great opportunity to score, but his half-volley on the turn sailed over the bar, much to his frustration.
As the game neared its conclusion, the Hawks pushed for a winner in the final minutes but were unable to make the breakthrough.
The game ended in a draw. Next up for the Hawks is an away trip to AFC Porchester in the Servio Men’s Senior Cup.
FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-1 DORCHESTER TOWN
Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Stanley, Austin, Atangana, McNerney (C), Whittingham, Seager, Maloney, Kealy (Swann 83’), Anderson, Laidlaw
Unused Subs: Walker-Harris, Lee, Tshaka, Aston
Cautions: Austin 11’, Maloney 37’
Goals: Seager 43’
Dorchester Town: Benfield (GK), Dickson, Spetch, Turner, Pardoe, Moore, Ngalo (C), Hutchinson (Haste 81’), Fogden (Buse 81’), Koszela, Gwengwe (Roberts 87’)
Unused Subs: Daws, Robinson
Goals: Gwengwe 29’
Attendance: 838
Player of the Match: Nigel Atangana