First Team
Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup Quarter Final Tue 14 January The OnSite Group Stadium
AFC Portchester
  • Ridge (44')
1
Havant & Waterlooville
  • Swann (14', 42')
  • Laidlaw (74')
3
1-3

The tie started as it did in the Servio Men’s Senior Cup Quarter Final just 7 days prior with an early chance falling in favour of Swann and Havant. Debutant Liam Marshall chased a ball down the flank before setting Swann. He collected and drove infield and struck well, but was denied by White in the Portchester net.

AFC Portchester would probe the Hawks defence to no avail in the opening 10 minutes but following a few corners in relatively quick succession another chance would fall the way of Havant. A corner delivered in by Lee would find its way to Palancean on the edge of the area. Running onto it, the teenager looked to get a strike away first time but saw his effort blocked.

Pressing high, Liam Marshall intercepted a short header back from a Portchy defender. He raced through, taking the ball around White before being brought to ground leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Reuben Swann stepped up and dispatched the spot kick to give the Hawks an early lead in  the tie

Lee Wort would have Portchy’s best chance of the opening exchanges getting onto the end of a looping cross to the back post. Unleashing a volley, he hit it well, but the effort flew over Bonney’s crossbar.

Reuben Swann would pressurise a ball back to White, creating an opportunity for the Hawks. The play was worked over to Lee who could only strike over.

Just after the half hour mark of the tie, Havant would see another brilliant chance to double their lead. Aston won it high and countered forwards; he chose to run it alone and got the shot away forcing White into a strong save.

The pressure continued as Willson got his head to the resulting corner. He knocked the ball down and Goddard poked it at goal, the effort was cleared away by AFC Portchester as Havant appealed. The ball wasn’t fully away though as another in Havant colours looked to poke at goal. After a scramble in the area, the hosts eventually cleared away with the Hawks still asking the question on whether Goddard’s effort has crossed the line.

Laidlaw driving up the right beat his man, created some space and was able to get a ball into the area. Marshall rising highest intelligently flicked the ball into the path of Seokjae Lee who lifted a strike over White. Swann following in at the back post was on hand to help the ball over the line bagging his second of the night.

Marley Ridge would find the top corner to get the hosts on the board, a brilliant curling strike just before the end of the half setting up a closer second half.

HALF TIME – AFC PORTCHESTER 1-2 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

The hosts would come out in the second half with work to do but the tie slipped into a cagey affair with both sides scrapping to find their stride.

Portchester would have opportunities to pull square with a notable chance on the hour falling to Lee Wort. The hosts countered forward with the ball worked to Wort, he looked to fashion a strike away but his effort was blocked.

Coming forward down the right, the Hawks looked to put the game beyond doubt. Lee fashioned the space to deliver and clipped the ball into the area. The clearance reached as far as Swann who with his back to goal acrobatically volleyed goalwards but a brilliant block sent it behind for a corner.

Continuing to grow into the tie Havant would once again probe with an attack, some strong play from Palancean after collecting from debutant Smith. Damian beat his man, ball rolled past another defender before working it back to Smith who had created an angle. He got the strike away but White was able to make the stop.

The Hawks would get their third after some persistence paid off. A long ball down the channel from Willson gave Laidlaw something to chase. His first touch onto the ball brought it down and saw him roll away from his man excellently. Harvey raced onto the touch down the wing before coming back on his man. He worked the space well before bending a sublime effort over the keeper and into the net to re-establish our two goal advantage in some style.

Another excellent opportunity for Swann to seal his hattrick came shortly after the third. He raced through on goal, pulling away from his man he got the strike away with White closing the angle but could only find the base of the post.

The game drew to a close and Havant would progress to the Semi-Finals after a strong performance against an AFC Portchester side who continue to show their strength at the top of the Wessex Premier Division.

FULL TIME – AFC PORTCHESTER 1-3 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

AFC Portchester: White (GK), Clack, C. Brook, Howes (Jennison 75’), Williamson, Searle (C), Willis-Chambers (Farminer 78’), Ridge, Wort (Martin 85’), Davies, H. Brook

Unused Subs: Pennery, Duffin

Goals: Ridge 44’

 

Havant and Waterlooville: Bonney (GK), Laidlaw, Goddard, Aston, McNerney (C) (Smith 62’), Willson, Palancean (Tolentino ), Tshaka, Swann, Marshall (Yates 86’), Lee

Unused Subs: Cobb (GK), Ellis

Goals: Swann 14’ (P), 42’, Laidlaw 74’

Attendance: 182

Report By: Josh Verroken