The game began with the Hawks applying early pressure, testing Basingstoke’s defence within the opening five minutes. They created a couple of half chances but nothing to truly trouble the goalkeeper.

On the 5-minute mark the Hawks had a golden opportunity. Seager was put through on goal, finding himself 1-on-1 with the Basingstoke keeper. However, his shot was directly at the goalkeeper, who made a comfortable save.

A few moments later, the Hawks were awarded a free-kick just outside the area after Kealy was brought down. Reuben Austin stepped up to take the free kick and hit a perfectly placed shot that flew into the back of the net, leaving the keeper with no chance, putting the Hawks into the lead.

On the half an hour mark the Hawks were awarded a penalty and Basingstoke were down to 10 men as Kokoszka was given a second yellow for the challenge. Ryan Seager stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted home, doubling the lead for the Hawks.

Basingstoke gave themselves a lifeline late in the half as they pulled one back when Rudy Allen scored, with what was their only real opportunity in the first half.

Just before the halftime whistle, the Hawks should have extended their lead. A cross played across the face of the goal found Seager, who, under pressure from a defender, somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar with an open goal in front of him.

By the end of the first half, the Hawks had delivered a commanding performance, but the late goal from the visitors meant they would need to remain focused as they headed into the second half.

HALF TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 2-1 BASINGSTOKE TOWN

The second half saw a strong response from the Hawks as they continued to dominate proceedings, building on their first-half performance.

Seager played a clever ball to Kealy, who was facing away from goal. The striker turned sharply and fired a shot, but the Basingstoke goalkeeper was equal to it, saving at the second attempt to keep the scoreline unchanged.

Anderson found himself in a dangerous position inside the box and, despite being at a tight angle, unleashed a powerful shot. The Basingstoke keeper showed excellent reflexes, getting a fingertip to the ball to send it crashing onto the crossbar, denying Anderson a brilliant goal.

The Hawks restored their two-goal lead when Seager was given space in the box and, with calm composure, he fired a precise shot into the bottom corner of the net. Making it 3-1.

Ryan Seager almost got himself a hat trick hen he broke through on goal. However, the Basingstoke goalkeeper pulled off a superb save, diving low to his left to deny Seager from close range and preventing his side from going even further behind.

The Hawks put the game to bed with around 20 minutes left. Maloney picked up the ball just outside the box and, with a powerful strike, sent the ball rocketing over the head of the goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net. It was a stunning goal, giving the Hawks a commanding 4-1 lead and effectively sealing the win.

As the match went on, the Hawks maintained their dominance, with Basingstoke unable to find a way back into the game. Leon Maloney got his second of the game in added time of the game.

The second-half performance was a clinical display of attacking football, capped off by Maloney’s outstanding strike. Next up for the Hawks is away at Woking in the FA trophy.

FULL TIME: HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE 5-1 BASINGSTOKE TOWN

Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Stanley, Austin, Atangana (Sidwell 74’), McNerney (C) (Laidlaw 77’), Willson, Seager (Whittingham 68’), Maloney, Kealy, Dockerill, Anderson (Swann 68’)

Unused Subs: Tshaka

Cautions: Maloney 58’, McNerney 73’, Swann 82’

Goals: Austin 10’, Seager 31’, 55’, Maloney 68’, 90+5’

Basingstoke Town: Grant (GK), Johnson-Schuster, Kokoszka, Allen, Ball, Upton, Gallagher (Le Paih 60’), Brown (Warre 60’), Ferdinand (Peart 71’), Deadfield, Reid (Clark 36’)

Unused Subs: Efedje

Cautions: Kokoszka 20’, 30’, Johnson-Schuster 44’

Red Cards: Kokoszka 30’

Goals: Allen 38’

Attendance: 731

Player of the Match: Reuben Austin

Report By: Alex McNeice