Starting the tie on the front foot, the Hawks looked to find an early opener. Olly Pendlebury threaded a ball forward to Matthew Hayden who was able to fire a teasing delivery across the face of goal. The vital touch just didn’t come in time and the visitors were able to get the ball away.
The Hawks relented in the early pressure as they sent a dangerous delivery into the area, searching for a white shirt. Former Hawk Jordan Rose was on hand to clear any impending danger away for The Crusaders.
Matthew Hayden and Ethan Giwa-McNeil linked up well down the Hawks right to try and create an opening. Hayden beat his man in the air and nodded down the line for Giwa-McNeil to chase, a strong recovery from Hungerford was able to recover and block behind for a corner which the visitors eventually dealt with.
Hungerford created their first real opening of the tie after some good work from Harry Williams saw the ball with James Ollis. He set Joseph Shepherd who struck at goal but Ben Dudzinski was able to make the save and hold on.
George Milner-Smith picked out Harvey Laidlaw with a delightful switch of play. Harvey carried forward and fashioned the space to deliver into a dangerous area. Alfy Whittingham got a foot on the delivery but could only turn his strike over the bar.
Continuing to work the ball nicely, Hayden and Milner-Smith combine before it’s given to Pendlebury to carry forwards in the centre of the park. He plays wide to Laidlaw who uses the option of Nana Owusu outside of him. Nana creates the space to deliver and picks out Ryan Seager but he can only fire over the bar.
Another pair of chances would come in quick succession for the Hawks as Owusu and Seager would both be unable to find the target with their efforts. The pressure continued from the Hawks but Luke Cairney wasn’t being troubled in the Crusaders net.
An excellent chance to take the lead fell to Owusu on the half hour mark, Seager spotted his run with a ball through the Hungerford defence and Owusu picked it up. He drove forward and got the strike away but didn’t connect cleanly and it was a comfortable take for Cairney in the end.
The Hawks were given a great chance to take the lead as the referee pointed to the spot in the 37th minute, judging that Ryan Seager had been fouled in a sea of red shirts. Seager stepped up and slotted home from 12-yards scoring against his former club and giving the Hawks the lead with just five left to play.
Despite further pressure from the Hawks, they couldn’t quite find another opening but carried a lead in at the break.
Half Time: Havant & Waterlooville 1-0 Hungerford Town
Hungerford were quicker out the traps at the start of the second half and got their reward just five minutes after the restart. The Hawks gave it away cheaply and were punished as Hungerford worked the ball well carrying forwards before it was slipped across to Harry Williams who pulled the visitors on terms.
In opposite fashion to the first half, the Hawks were struggling to get out their own half and it was Hungerford who dictated the play throughout, creating half chances but winning the ball back quickly from the Hawks to control the game how they wanted.
James Ollis had a golden chance to give Hungerford the lead, he was picked out by an inch perfect through ball running towards goal. He rounded the onrushing Ben Dudzinski and looked to have the goal sealed. Matthew Hayden had recovered well and prevented an easy tap in and Ollis opted for power over placement as he thumped the post from close range, a huge let off for the Hawks.
The Hawks did create a few chances in the second period but never really troubled Cairney in net as they struggled to get a foothold in the half.
The winner would come for Hungerford with just 5 remaining on the clock and it was substitute Kyle Tooze who got it. Having had an effort saved by Dudzinski just moments prior, the Hawks had once again conceded possession cheaply and gave Hungerford an opportunity to come forward. The passes picked off the Hawks players who saw Tooze slipped in behind. Dudzinski had closed the angle as Tooze struck at goal, but the Hawks shot stopper could only parry the ball into Tooze as he looked to hurdle the sliding keeper. The ricochet off Tooze rolled into the bottom corner to win the tie for the Crusaders.
The Hawks huffed and puffed for the remainder of the game and into added time tried to create a chance that would snatch them a point but unable to do so, the Hawks tasted defeat once again on home turf and continued a far from ideal start to the campaign.
Full Time: Havant & Waterlooville 1-2 Hungerford Town
Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Hayden, Milner-Smith, Pendlebury, Seager (C), Giwa-McNeil (Atangana 57′), Young, Owusu, Aston (Brown 83′), Laidlaw
Unused Subs: Walker-Harris (GK), Warren, Yates
Goals: Seager 40′ (P)
Hungerford Town: Cairney (GK), Angell, Smith, Rose (Kotwica 46′), Berry-Hargreaves, Williams (Tooze 69′), Duffus, McGrory (C) (Blackford 57′), Monks, Ollis (McDonagh 74′), Shepherd
Unused Subs: Osborne
Goals: Williams 50′, Tooze 85′
Caution: Rose 90+4′
Attendance: 676
Hawks Man of the Match: Matthew Hayden (selected by AJ & MJ Plant Sales)
Report By: Josh Verroken