A game with the 3-points vital for both sides for contrasting reasons produced a battling affair as the Hawks struck twice in added time to secure the victory.

Dominating the early possession, Ryan Seager fashioned an early chance for the Hawks. He struck at goal after finding a gap on the edge of the area, but his strike was matched by Harrison Rhone who palmed behind.

Both teams continued to jostle to try and get their noses ahead in the tie but the struggle to get a strong grip on the tie continued for both sides.

Leon Maloney would fashion an opportunity from the edge of the area but once again Rhone was on hand to save.

Just after the half-hour mark, the Hawks created a chance from a set-piece. Olly Pendlebury whipped a freekick into a dangerous area which was flicked goalwards by Seager. Rhone punched away as far as Maloney who couldn’t get his strike away cleanly the loose ball fell to George Milner-Smith who saw his effort denied by the hosts.

With the game ticking towards the break, Devante Stanley picked out the run of Ryan Seager with a delightful ball forwards. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the desired contact on the ball and Rhone was able to save.

In added time, the Hawks were given a great chance to break the deadlock. Olly Pendlebury was judged to have been caught in the area by a Marlow defender, and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Ryan Seager stepped up and slotted home the opening goal of the tie with virtually the last kick of the half.

HALF TIME: MARLOW 0-1 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

The second period continued in similar fashion to the first as the Hawks dominated the possession and Marlow restrained to playing long and trying to break forward with pace.

A nice move from the Hawks resulted in Leon Maloney carrying to the byline before clipping into the area. Marlow could only clear as far as the edge of the area with Josh Dockerill running onto the loose ball but he could only fire over.

Maloney and Seager would combine again with the latter able to turn and strike in the area but couldn’t quite find the target.

Substitute Harvey Bradbury would get involved soon after coming on. He picked out the run of Maloney who worked it into Olly Pendlebury who struck first time but Marlow got the block in.

The equaliser for the home side would come through their main threat in the tie. Naheer Omar Nawaf as he latched onto a bouncing ball and squeezed an effort in at the near post striking the woodwork before rolling along the line and eventually hitting the net.

With the game all square and Marlow needing to push hard for victory the game opened up and the Hawks were nearly able to strike back instantly. Stanley carried forwards before sliding the ball into Bradbury who struck just wide.

The chances kept coming as the game ticked into a minimum of 5 minutes added time but time was running out for either side to find a winner.

The Hawks won a corner which Reuben Austin whipped into the area, Bradbury met the ball with a firm knockdown. Seager was the target and he slammed home a vital goal for the Hawks as they retook the lead.

Ahead of play restarting following Seager’s second, the referee was called over to converse with his linesman on the nearside. Following that discussion, Marlow Captain, Christopher Ovenden was summoned over by the referee with Anduan Hajdini involved. The referee spoke with both before brandishing a red card in the direction of Hajdini with Marlow finishing the remainder of additional time with 10-men.

The Hawks pushed forward once again in additional time with a bouncing ball in behind the Marlow defensive line not dealt with, Seager got there ahead of Rhone but could only nod the ball just wide.

Seager would seal the game with his hat-trick as we continued to play in the 11th minute of added time, Reuben Swann spotted Seager in space and picked him out with a ball forward. Rhone was caught out as Seager lifted the ball over the Marlow keeper and into the back of the net to put the game beyond any doubt!

FULL TIME: MARLOW 1-3 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

 

Marlow: Rhone (GK), Oladunjoye, Hoath, Ovenden (C), Brown, Nawaf, Maudner, Agar, Ammissah, Jallow, Hajdini

Unused Subs: Jack, Muburi

Goal: Nawaf 83′

Cautions: Ammissah 23′, Jallow 32′

Sent-Off: Hajdini 90+6′

 

Havant and Waterlooville: Ferdinand (GK), Stanley, Austin, Seager (C), Maloney (Whittingham 87′), Kealy (Bradbury 70′), Pendlebury, Owusu (Swann 90+7), Milner-Smith, Dockerill, Laidlaw

Unused Subs: Walker-Harris (GK), Jallow

Goals: Seager 45+2′ (P), 90+4, 90+11

Cautions: Pendlebury 54′, Maloney 82′, Seager 90+9′