“For the dressing room that is a very, very important three points.” Havant & Waterlooville manager Paul Doswell reflects on Saturdays crucial 2-1 league win against Concord Rangers at Westleigh Park.
A dominant team performance from The Hawks helped them overcome their dip in form as they scored a deserved 81st minute winner to take all three points.
It looked like a tricky afternoon for the home side as they could only net the one time in the first half despite their strong attacking display. A wonderful strike from Billy Roast got The Beach Boys level before Sam Magri rose high in the box to head the ball home late on.
“Its one we can put to bed,” began Doswell: “I’ve said most weeks at home that we have dominated everything, dominated shots, dominated possession and at half time we had.
“When your only one nil up you worry that the opposition are going to get one chance, it’s our luck really, a fantastic strike on the volley from 20 yards out that’s nestled in the bottom corner and you think here we go again.
“I thought the lads dug in deep, great little cross in from Josh Taylor to Sam Magri. I think that’s his fifth header this season the other four have hit the bar, so it was lovely to see it go in.
“We needed it, we needed to get the hoodoo off of our back and I think for the dressing room that’s a very important three points, critical actually in the context of the season.”
Doswell then continued to mention how frustrating it was to see Concord equalise despite his side controlling the game.
“It’s a horrible feeling, I was watching from the stands so I could get a better view and check runs. Seeing that goal go in made my stomach drop and I thought here we go again.
“It was tough on them, like I said performance wise you can’t knock them but results wise you can and I think they would have been up against some criticism after the game if we didn’t get the result, but that’s the thing with football.
“You tend to work hard the luckier you get, and our lads worked very, very hard and they deserved that bit of luck. They did have chances, let’s not forget that I thought Ross Worner made a fantastic save in the first half.
“He made another great save in the second. Robson’s clearance off the line, that was going in without a shadow of a doubt. We can’t forget that in games and that could be a massive turning point in our season.
“If we went two one down there and we went on and lost then questions would have been asked of the players by myself and Ian Baird but they’ve turned it around and came out winning so that and that leaves you with a much better mental feeling about yourself.”
By Liam Rice (@Liam_Rice9)