The hosts had an early opportunity from a freekick after Aaron Heap was judged to have been fouled by Mitchell Aston. Will Owens stepped up to the set-piece but could only fire his effort just wide of the post. Hawks shotstopper Ben Dudzinski had set it up well and had it covered on its way behind.

Despite the Hawks seeing the majority of the ball in the early exchanges, the hosts would fashion another decent opportunity. It would fall to the skipper Levi Steele who drove towards goal, with Hawks defenders in pursuit, he went it alone but could only pull his effort into the side netting.

After another Owens freekick landed in the hands of Dudzinski, he was able to find a ball out to Ethan Giwa-McNeil in space. He drove forward with a number of Robins shirts in pursuit, he carried all the way to the byline and was able to win the Hawks a corner. The resulting set-piece just didn’t quite fall for Brendan Willson and the hosts were able to clear their lines.

Alfy Whittingham hunted down a ball into the channel forcing Ethan Patterson into a loose pass which Ryan Seager collected. Seager and Whittingham combined before the latter looked for Harvey Laidlaw’s run into the area but a promising move was halted by the offside flag raised against Laidlaw.

Ryan Seager would open the scoring for the Hawks at the midway point of the first period, with an effort that will no doubt be a contender for Goal of the Season. Dudzinski launched a kick forwards for the Hawks which was met by substitute Jyrell Bojang, but he could only knock it into the path of Aston. Mitch slid a ball into the path of Seager just inside the Evesham half. Having spotted Kilroy way off his line, Seager let the ball run across his body took a touch and struck at goal lobbing Kilroy and scoring a special goal to open the scoring.

The Hawks went in search of another goal to cement their lead heading towards the half-hour mark. Whittingham set the ball to Laidlaw who saw his delivery cleared into the path of Olly Pendlebury. He worked the ball back out to Laidlaw who picked out Seager in the box but his effort was always rising.

A constant tool in the Evesham attacks was the long throw of Will Owens. He launched another ball into the area but this time the Hawks used it to their advantage, clearing away and countering forwards. Mitchell Aston nodded down the line and Whittingham gave chase. Alfy rode the challenge of Ryan Hayes and continued to drive forwards. He switched the ball across to Seager who struck but Kilroy was able to save and hold.

Half Time: Evesham United 0-1 Havant & Waterlooville

Evesham started the second half reinvigorated as they held more of the possession and probed the Hawks’ defence for an opening but a breakthrough just wasn’t coming for the home side.

As the game hit the hour mark, Whittingham had a good chance to extend the advantage as he beat Ioan Richards to a ball in the air and gave chase to his own flick on. He raced towards goal but a late intervention from the home side was able to deflect behind for a corner kick as Alfy looked to slide the ball across to Giwa-McNeil who came forwards in support.

Steele saw his effort to level the game denied by Dudzinski from a tight angle for the hosts. Andre Wright turned out of trouble in the centre of the park and sent Evesham on their way forwards, the ball was fed into Steele who saw his effort saved. The resulting corner came off the top of the bar straight from Owens’ kick but The Robins couldn’t capitalise.

A bouncing backpass by Barlow to Kilroy helped create another chance for the Hawks. The loose ball eventually found Joe Goddard in possession and he played forwards to Giwa-McNeil. He combined well with Seager and Whittingham before Alfy slid the ball across to Pendlebury who took aim but couldn’t find the target with his strike.

The resulting goal-kick from Pendlebury’s effort saw Evesham nonchalantly knocking the ball around at the back. Ethan Giwa-McNeil applied some pressure on Richards attempting to force him long but he cleared the ball into Ethan who sent Jenson Kilroy scrambling back towards his goal to prevent the Hawks from scoring a second from nowhere.

Evesham continued their search for an equaliser but Ethan Giwa-McNeil nearly got his first competitive goal for the Hawks as Dudzinski’s freekick into the area fell towards him. Ethan couldn’t get the shot off but he was able to get hold of possession. As he delivered a low ball into a dangerous area, the hosts recovered and cleared their lines.

Ethan Dunbar was inches away from finding the net for the hosts. Steele controlled a long ball forwards and knocked it towards Dunbar, he controlled on his chest before striking on the bounce clipping the top of the bar with his effort.

The crossbar would once again deny Evesham the equaliser, this time through Levi Steele in additional time. A pinpoint delivery from Jamar Smith found Steele in the middle who crashed his headed effort off the crossbar with the Hawks able to recover and prevent any opportunities on the rebound.

Pendlebury had a chance to put the tie beyond any doubt, deep into additional time. After Owusu was fouled by Richards, Olly stepped over the freekick and struck at goal. His effort was up and over the wall but didn’t quite dip enough in time to cause Kilroy any issues.

The Hawks stood strong defensively and dug deep to secure a valuable win at The Spiers & Hartwell Stadium, getting their first points of the 2025/26 Season whilst Evesham United were defeated for the first time. The main talking point of the tie without doubt the goal from Ryan Seager but both sides could’ve had more on the day but it was the Hawks heading back to Hampshire the happier.

Full Time: Evesham United 0-1 Havant & Waterlooville

 

Evesham United: Kilroy (GK), Barlow, Patterson (Bojang 16′ (Smith 69′)), Richards, Heap (Awadh 77′), Steele (C), Wright, Owens, Dunbar (Middleton 80′), Walters, Hayes (Liggett 60′)

Cautions: Richards 90+4′, Awadh 90+5′

 

Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski (GK), Hayden, Milner-Smith, Willson, Pendlebury, Seager, Whittingham, Giwa-McNeil (Owusu 86′), Aston, Laidlaw, Goddard

Unused Subs: Atangana, Brown, Warren, Yates

Cautions: Goddard 34′, Pendlebury 56′, Seager 85′

Goal: Seager 23′

 

Attendance: 300

Report By: Josh Verroken