The Hawks bounced back from Monday’s defeat at Chippenham with an impressive 2-1 victory at Ebbsfleet.
Goals from Tommy Wright and Scott Rendell early in the first-period were enough to ensure Paul Doswell’s side would get back to winning ways.
It was another feisty affair between these two, with both teams not seeing eye to eye following the final whistle. Richie Watkins had a tough afternoon, unfortunately both teams were left feeling aggrieved with decisions in a game which was an entertaining watch overall.
Match action
It took just two minutes for the Hawks to open the scoring. Tommy Wright picked the ball up on the edge of the area following good work down the right from Josh Passley. The striker left Sido Jombati in his wake before slotting the ball comfortably past Josh Gould.
Paul Doswell’s men were in dreamland as they doubled their lead inside five minutes, Scott Rendell getting himself on the scoresheet. Wright went inches from finding the net as he saw a header crash back off the crossbar. Rendell was there to pick up the pieces and smuggle the ball home.
The visitors continued to threaten and so very nearly added a third on 25 minutes when Joe Newton got away down the left. The wing-back got around his man before finding Wright with a cut-back, unfortunately he couldn’t direct his shot on target
The Fleet grew into the game and brought Ross Worner into action shortly before the break when Alfie Egan tried his luck from the edge of the area. Worner had his angles covered and easily parried away his effort.
Lee Martin got the home side back in the game on the stroke of half-time with a fine curling effort from the edge of the box. Hawks goalkeeper Ross Worner couldn’t quite get his fingertips to it.
HT – Ebbsfleet United 1 HAWKS 2
Both teams started the second-half with confidence on the ball, but it was Ebbsfleet who looked the more likely to find the back of the net. On the hour mark Lee Martin went close to doubling his day’s tally, but the forward’s effort lacked the conviction it needed to beat Worner.
Substitute Rakish Bingham looked dangerous for the hosts after coming on and was presented with his side’s best chances of the game. First a Chapman pull-back was met by the striker but he could only fire wide. Moments later, the ball looked destined to find the bottom corner from his first time shot only to rebound off fellow substitute Elliott Romain and behind to safety.
Havant defended valiantly throughout the second-half and thought they had secured the three points with a third goal late on. James Roberts’ mazey run led to him being fouled outside the Ebbsfleet area. The ball fell to Wright who finished with a plomb across Gould, but the referee failed to play the advantage and a free-kick was awarded instead.
In the end, the two quick-fire goals early in the first-half were enough to secure the three points, despite relentless Ebbsfleet pressure.
The Hawks welcome Oxford City to the Draper Tools Community Stadium next week hoping to build on this statement victory.
FT – Ebbsfleet United 1 HAWKS 2
Hawks Starting XI – Worner, Passley, Adebowale, Oastler ©, Magri (63), Newton, Rooney, McCarthy, Clifford (68), Rendell (68), Wright
Subs used – Gobern (63), Roberts (68), Wall (68)
Subs not used – Searle, Baggie
Ebbsfleet United Starting XI – Gould, J Martin, Jombati, Solly, Chapman, Egan, Paxman, Cundle, L Martin, Tanner, Poleon
Subs used – Bingham, Romain, West
Subs not used – Haigh, Kahraman
Written by: Ryan Honey