The Hawks made a bright start and made the breakthrough early on. A well-struck free kick from Laidlaw found Paul Rooney, whose knock toward goal caused chaos in the Dorchester box. After a scramble that saw the ball seemingly favour Milner-Smith, it fell to Seager, who rifled a powerful finish into the roof of the net to put the Hawks ahead.

Dorchester grew into the game and found an equaliser just over five minutes before the interval. A free kick into the area was met by Crosbie, who got ahead of Ferdinand to guide the ball into the net, levelling the scores.

The game would stay level going into the break, with both sides having had their moments in a fairly even contest.

HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-1 DORCHESTER TOWN

The Hawks created an early chance just as the teams came back from the break as Taylor drove forward and cut the ball back, but neither Thorpe nor Seager could convert from close range.

Another chance for the home side came from a corner. Rooney delivered the ball into the box, and Willson rose highest, but his header went wide as the Hawks continued to press.

There were yet more chances for the Hawks. Seager beat Benfield to the ball and kept the attack alive, setting Swann, whose strike was brilliantly tipped over by the Dorchester keeper.

The Hawks finally got their lead back from the resulting corner. A scramble in the area saw Dan Fosu slip the ball under Benfield from close range, putting the Hawks back in front.

Captain Seager was able to give the Hawks daylight when he doubled his tally for the evening. After blocking a clearance from Spetch, Seager found himself in behind and chipped the ball over Benfield to make it 3-1.

Ethan Giwa-McNeil almost added a fourth for the Hawks just before the end of the game, when he was threaded through by Seager and struck on the turn, only to be denied by another fine save from Benfield.

It was a commanding attacking performance from the Hawks in the second half, turning a level game at half-time into a 3-1 victory. Next up for the Hawks is the visit of Gloucester at Westleigh Park on Saturday Afternoon.

FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 3-1 DORCHESTER TOWN

Havant and Waterlooville: Ferdinand (GK), Taylor (Nkwonta 90’), Milner-Smith (Aston 83’), Willson, Pendlebury (Swann 61’), Seager (C), Maloney (Owusu 83’), Thorpe (Giwa-McNeil 79’), Rooney, Laidlaw, Fosu

Goals: Seager 11’, 76’, Fosu 69’

DORCHESTER TOWN: Benfield (GK), Dickson, Wright, Spetch (C) (Turner 79’), Haste (McIntosh 70’), Pardoe, Murray (Buse 90+2’), Moore (Smith 74’), Underhill, Parker (Wooding 74’), Crosbie

Cautions: Murray 21’, Moore 52’

Goals: Crosbie 39’

Attendance: 624

Player of the Match: Daniel Fosu

Report By: Alex McNiece