A fairly uneventful first half-hour saw both sides grappling for their hold on the game with very limited opportunities created in this time .
The hosts would create the first clear opportunity in the tie as Carson’s cross was swung into a dangerous area but Tom Purrington couldn’t quite get the decisive touch and the Hawks could clear away. Taunton would come again as Jack Rice looked to divert an effort towards goal, but Daniel Fosu retreating to his own goal line was on hand to prevent the opener.
The first real Hawks chance fell the way of Reuben Swann as he chased after a ball in behind, with Maloney in support and defenders closing in Reuben took on the shot but Phillips was down well to get a strong hand and palm it away.
Approaching the break, Ryan Seager would put the Hawks ahead. A freekick sent forwards by Lorenz Ferdinand was won by Daniel Fosu and Leon Maloney with Ryan Seager onto Maloney’s flick in behind the defence. Seager beat Phillips to the ball, keeping it from rolling wide before tapping into an empty net from all of a few inches out!
Half Time: Taunton Town 0-1 Havant & Waterlooville
The hosts started the second half the brighter of the two sides with a couple of early chances falling the way of Purrington but he was unable to find the target and test Lorenz Ferdinand. This would be a common theme of the second half with a number of Taunton’s sights of goal unable to find the target.
The Hawks had opportunities of their own through the second half as well but Phillips did well in repelling those efforts.
As the game went on Taunton pushed harder for a leveller and they found it through danger man Owen Brain. Afforded the time and space, Brain came inside and wrapped an effort inside the far post as the clock hit 90.
With a minimum of 6 additional minutes shown on the board for added time, both teams went in search of the winner and the Hawks had a great chance to re-take the lead as Freddie Taylor was slipped through by Ryan Seager but he blazed his effort over the bar.
Ryan Seager would grab his and the Hawks second in the 93rd minute as he was played in by Alfy Whittingham after the hosts failed to clear. Seager drove forwards and slotted into the bottom corner to put the Hawks back ahead with just a few minutes of injury time remaining.
Taunton would however once again level the game as Scott Robinson powered home a header from a corner deep into additional time sharing the points in the end.
A frantic end to a fairly even but entertaining contest in Somerset, The Hawks will be disappointed to have not wrapped up all 3 points given the times they were leading but no doubt lessons will have been learned from this and another point gained a key step forwards too.
Full Time: Taunton Town 2-2 Havant & Waterlooville