Around 10 minutes into the game the Hawks won themselves a corner, which was put into the box by Leon Maloney. The ball was cleared to the edge of the box where Brendan Wilson was there to meet it, but his shot sailed over the bar.

AFC Totton looked to respond with a ball into the box, but it was easily collected by Hawks keeper Ben Dudzinski, maintaining the deadlock in what was becoming a cagey and scrappy encounter.

On the half-hour mark, the deadlock was finally broken when Maloney delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Harvey Bradbury rose above the Totton defenders and directed a powerful header into the net, giving the Hawks the lead.

The visitors looked to respond with an equaliser with Charlie Austin finding himself in space and a bouncing ball. The half-volley from outside the box was met with a good save from Dudzinski, who got down quickly and held on.

Just before the break Devante Stanley put in a dangerous cross, finding captain Joe McNerney. However, his header drifted wide of the target, and the score remained 1-0 to the Hawks heading into half time.

HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-0 AFC TOTTON

AFC Totton made a strong start to the second half. Tom Blair made a run down the right-hand side, driving into the box his shot across goal beat the Hawks goalkeeper, levelling the score at 1-1.

The early stages of the second half were dominated by AFC Totton, who applied relentless pressure on the Havant defence, which stood strong.

The complexion of the game changed with around 30 minutes remaining when Alfy Whittingham was shown a straight red card for a challenge that the referee deemed to be excessive.  The decision sparked an altercation between the two teams, with several Totton players surrounding the referee in protest. The dismissal left the Hawks with a daunting task for the remaining 30 minutes.

Following the red card the match became increasingly scrappy, with AFC Totton committing a series of fouls that resulted in multiple yellow cards. Despite their numerical advantage, AFC Totton struggled to create clear chances as the Hawks dug in defensively.

Late in the game the Hawks had a couple of opportunities to snatch a winner when Stanley won a free kick in a central position about 30 yards from goal. Maloney stepped up to take the set piece, but his shot lacked power and direction, going straight into the arms of the Totton goalkeeper.

Moments later, McNerney tried his luck from another free kick, but the Totton wall stood firm, and the resulting corner came to nothing.

Despite being down to 10 men for the majority of the second half, the Hawks defended well to hold off a strong AFC Totton side. The league leaders, who had won all four of their previous games, were unable to break down Havant and Waterlooville and the match ended in a draw. Next up for the Hawks is a home FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie against Wallingford and Crowmarsh.

FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 1-1 AFC TOTTON

Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Stanley, Atangana (Aston 45’), McNerney (C), Willson, Bradbury, Whittingham, Maloney, Kealy (Swann 83’), Jallow, Dockerill

Unused Subs: Walker-Harris (GK), Lee, Laidlaw

Cautions: Maloney 49’, Kealy 62′

Sent Off: Whittingham 62’

Goals: Bradbury 30’

AFC Totton: Gould (GK), Oastler, Kennedy (Daws 76’), Magri, Tomasso, Rendell (C), Austin, Hallett, Rose, Lee, Blair (Taylor 86’)

Unused Subs: Rew, Pelham, Bennett

Cautions: Kennedy 67’, Blair 69’

Goals: Blair 47’

Attendance: 1,028

Player of the Match: Ben Dudzinski

Report By: Alex McNeice