October - December
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October
Havant 0–0 Weston Super Mare
I’m glad I don’t have to view the whole ninety. Another game providing little spark, going to need to rejig the team a bit to try and get goals back into our play.
Havant 2-0 Farnborough (FA Cup 3rd Qualifier)
Pericard
Spear
Pericard on 2 mins and Spear just before the break proved we can score, but mainly save the goals for the cup. Easy win and could have been four or five.
Basingstoke 0–3 Havant
Page
Pericard
Pearce
Page headed home from a corner early on and Pericard grabbed an impressive second. Pearce completed a decent victory with another goal from a corner to give us a cosy 3-0 win
Salisbury 1–2 Havant (FA Cup 4th Qualifier)
Pericard (2)
Pericard scored a first half braced as we caught them on the break. Buchel worked wonders in goal and although they pulled one back second half, we held out to qualify for the FA Cup 1
st round!
Havant 0-1 Farnborough
Cagey game opened up by Sam Pearces red card with five mins left. Having used all our subs, conceded 91
st min goal. Ouch.
Bilericay 1–1 Havant
Spear
All over them and couldn’t take a chance. They caught us on the counter second half but Spear grabbed a flukey equaliser with ten to go. Felt like two points dropped.
Havant 0–1 Dorchester
Terrible performance. Couldn’t break them down at all and then they broke and scored with their only attack. Poor run of games at the moment
November
Dorchester 3-2 Havant (FA Cup 1st round)
Hutchinson
Jones
Another poor display, gifted two sloppy goals before Hutchinson pulled one back. They grabbed one from a set piece in the 90
th min before Jones grabbed a late consolation in added time. They got Tranmere away next round.
Havant 2-3 Welling
Spear (2)
Two behind early on but then Spear bagged a brace. Tired legs in the squad not helping our cause and we went down to ten after losing Hutchinson to injury with all our subs used. Welling grabbed the winner late on, this is a horrendous run.
Havant 1–0 Dulwich Hamlet (FA Trophy Qualifier)
Whyte
Whyte gave us an easy lead, Spear played well up top but missed a couple of chances to put it beyond doubt. A commanding but not convincing passage through to the next round.
Weston-super-Mare 1–3 Havant
Palmer
Spear
Ramsey
A decent performance and very happy to be back in winning ways. Ray Spear was the star of the show in his last game of the loan spell, laying on two and scoring one himself. I’ll definitely be looking at bringing him to the club on a permanent deal if finances permit it.
Havant 3-0 Walton Casuals (FA Trophy 1st Round)
Pericard (2)
Palmer
Convincing win against a nothing side. Pericard was on top form with a brace and an assist. Although it was a very easy game the side are really gelling together well.
December
Havant 4-1 Bromley
Pericard (2)
Ramsey
Jones
The Vincent Pericard show. Scored two and tore them to shreds for the hour he was on the field. Due to the strikers extremely fragile nature, I tend to sub him when he’s put a shift of 60 minutes in. Goals from Ramsey and Jones completed the rout against the third placed side.
Havant 2–3 Staines
Page
Hutchinson
Hutchinson missed a pen early on but Page scored from the resulting corner. Staines equalised with their first attack of the game on the quarter hour but then Hutchinson made amends with a 30 yard rocket to restore the lead. Second half it all went pear shaped, they scored two poor goals and that was it. Battered them and a galling defeat all in all.
Tonbridge 1-1 Havant
Pericard
Vincent Pericard is the Blue Square South’s answer to Didier Drogba. Scored another belter but Tonbridge were much the better side and got a deserved equaliser. Downside was when a pan was overflowing on the cooker hob and I left the second half running; Pericard needed a wheelchair home after playing the full ninety. Eight points off the playoffs at the moment, impressed with how the team are playing at present.
Ebbsfleet 2–0 Havant (FA Trophy 2nd Round)
Tough game on paper, especially with us having to rest Pericard after his mammoth full game. Totally outplayed as they when one up in the first half. Buchel then gifted their striker the ball for two. Not too miffed about going out to a BSP team here.
Havant 2-0 Bath
Pericard (2)
Another game, another Pericard brace. Ramsey and Hutchinson pulled the strings in the middle and Bath assisted by looking incredibly ordinary. The visitors sacked their manager after the game; I don’t blame them at all. I find myself answering this question a lot lately:
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Eastbourne Boro 0-0 Havant
Should have won, created enough chances but found their keeper in fine fettle. Page smacked a header against the bar but couldn’t find that elusive goal.
Eastleigh 0-3 Havant
Palmer
Taggart
Jones
A great win. Buchel made a smart stop early on to keep it level and then two goals in five minutes put us ahead. Jones consolidated the win second half with a neat volley. Closing toward he playoffs now.
League Table – End of December
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End of Year Summary
Fairly pleased with how life has begun with Havant and at the moment am looking to build a reputation within the game and get Havant up to the Blue Square Premier in two seasons. Of course, these plans can change and the Chester job is looking precarious in the Blue Square North. They have a great side and infrastructure and it would be very tempting to flash them a bit of interest. I’ve got Havant sat six points off the playoffs and will be looking for some loans in January as well as trying to sort a deal with Torquay for Ray Spear; he did very well here on his loan period. Pericard has easily been my best player so far, even if he can only manage a portion of a game.
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