The Hawks got back to winning ways in FA Cup action as they beat Billericay Town 3-2 at the Draper Tools Community Stadium. 

Paul Doswell’s side raced into a three-nil lead in 19 second-half minutes. Goals from Jake McCarthy, James Roberts and Tommy Wright were enough to see Havant progress. Darren Foxley bagged a brace for the visitors late on, but in the end it wasn’t enough to force a replay.

Match Action

First half-chance of a very wet and windy afternoon fell to the Hawks after 12 minutes. Billy Clifford spotted the run of James Roberts and found the forward with a delightful ball over the top. After cutting inside, his effort was blocked and cleared to safety. 

Alex Wall was next to go close for the hosts as he met Josh Passley’s ball in from the right. The striker couldn’t guide his shot on target to test Bailey Vose.

Billy Clifford controlled the tempo all afternoon and thought he’d created the opening goal of the game when his delightful in-swinging delivery from the right found McCarthy at the back post. The midfielder couldn’t grow enough to direct the ball on target.

HT – HAWKS 0 Billericay Town 0

It was the same combination that would link up again early in the second-half. Unmarked in the Ricay box, McCarthy prodded home a dangerous Clifford ball into the box.

The lead was doubled just after the hour mark as Wall won the ball high up the pitch. The striker slid it across the face of goal for Roberts to tap into the net.

Roberts then turned provider moments later when he got away down the left. His pin-point pass across goal found Wright, and the substitute converted from six yards out.

It didn’t look to be Billericay’s day, but when Darren Foxley brilliantly found the net from a 25-yard free-kick on 77 minutes, it gave them hope of at least a replay.

The referee didn’t have much to do all game, but when Joe Felix was fouled on the line of the Hawks’ box after cutting in from the right. It took a minute long discussion with his assistant before pointing to the penalty spot. Foxley doubled his tally for the day from 12 yards to give the away side a chance late on.

Despite a wave of last minute Billericay attacks, Havant held on to claim victory and book their place in the Fourth Round of FA Qualifying. Next Saturday, Concord Rangers make the trip to the Draper Tools.

FT – HAWKS 3 Billericay Town 2 

HAWKS Starting XI – Worner, Passley, Oastler ©, Collins (45), Magri, Green (66), McCarthy, Clifford, Gobern, Roberts, Wall (73)

Subs used – Wright (45), Newton (66), Rendell (73)

Subs not used – Searle, Baggie

Billericay Town Starting XI – Vose, Ojo (89), Ekpiteta ©, Chambers, Foxley, Felix, Wind, Cumberbatch (68), Graham (64), Hunt, Pinto

Subs used – Lee (68), Reason (64), Lukombo (89)

Subs not used – Shamshoum, Mclver-Hauser

Written by: Ryan Honey