The Hawks started brightly and almost had an early breakthrough. Alfy Whittingham showed real strength to drive to the byline before cutting back for Giwa-McNeil, whose effort was hacked off the line by a retreating Parkway defender.

Just minutes later, Giwa-McNeil dispossessed the goalkeeper Allan high up the pitch, but after rounding him he could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and came agonisingly close again when Aston’s thunderous strike from the edge of the box crashed against the crossbar.

The pivotal moment of the half came just after the half-hour mark. Whittingham was brought down inside the area by Ryan Brett, who was shown a straight red card for the foul. Ryan Seager stepped up from the spot, but his penalty was well saved by Allan to keep the visitors level.

The Hawks’ frustration grew moments later when another chance went begging. A dangerous cross from Laidlaw found Seager, who controlled and fired goalwards, only to see his effort cannon back off the bar.

Despite being on top for most of the half and creating several clear chances, the Hawks were unable to find the breakthrough, and the sides went in level at 0–0.

HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 0-0 PLYMOUTH PARKWAY

The Hawks carved out a few half-chances immediately after the restart, but it was just after the hour mark that the deadlock was finally broken. A low ball whipped across the six-yard box by Owusu found Ryan Seager unmarked, and the striker had the simplest of tasks to tap into an empty net.

The goal lifted the Hawks’ intensity, and just five minutes later they came within inches of doubling their lead. Hayden’s deep delivery was met by Owusu, whose header took a deflection and looped narrowly over onto the roof of the net. From the resulting corner, Willson powered a header goalwards that beat the keeper, only for a Parkway defender to clear off the line.

The Hawks continued to control the game as the visitors struggled with their numerical disadvantage. In the closing stages, substitute Brown teed up Pendlebury on the edge of the box, forcing Allan into another smart save as he tipped the effort around the post.

The one goal was enough for the Hawks to seal the win and the three points at home. Next up for the Hawks is a mid-week home tie in the Servio Men’s Senior Cup against Colden Common.

FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-0 PLYMOUTH PARKWAY

Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Hayden (Dockerill 90+3’), Milner-Smith, Willson, Pendlebury, Seager (C), Whittingham, Giwa-McNeil (Brown 75’), Owusu, Aston, Laidlaw

Unused Subs: Warren, Yates, Goddard

Cautions: Pendlebury 20’, Aston 45+2’, Owusu 81’

Goals: Seager 62’

Plymouth Parkway: Allan (GK), Veale, Brett, Scarff, Williams (Edgecombe 52’), Hall, R. Garside (C), Watts-Barciela (Sullivan 65’), Smith (Ireland 65’), Nyadzayo (Love-Holmes 52’), C. Garside

Unused Subs: Simons

Cautions: Williams 41’, C. Garside 60’

Red Cards: Brett 33’

Attendance: 757

Player of the Match: Matthew Hayden

Report By: Alex McNeice