Havant close gap in title race

Title-chasing Havant closed the gap on South League premier division leaders Bromley & Beckenham this weekend with an impressive 4-0 win at Spencer.
Tomek Bruml fires a shot on goal for Havant   Picture: Mick YoungTomek Bruml fires a shot on goal for Havant   Picture: Mick Young
Tomek Bruml fires a shot on goal for Havant Picture: Mick Young

With the table-toppers drawing 3-3 at Henley, Havant are now four points off the summit with a game in hand on their rivals, following an impressive display in south-west London.

Niall Stott, Adam Bloomfield, Tomek Bruml and Adam Seccull were all on target for the visitors on a day to remember.

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Havant were without influential skipper Raj Laly, who broke a finger in training this week, and led by vic- captain Craig Duffy who controlled the midfield, along with Ollie Nail and the experienced Stott.

Manager Steve Lawson gave a debut to young England star Louis Wrenn, but it was another of Havant’s youngsters who gave the team the lead.

Bruml drove the Spencer baseline into the circle and his deflected cross ended up in the back of the net, to give Havant a deserved 1-0 lead.

Havant’s first penalty corner was well saved by the Spencer goalkeeper and Mike Deller-Merricks lifted his rebound effort over the crossbar.

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The visitors were in control of the first half for large spells but only went into the half-time break one goal in front.

The second half started well for Havant with some good attacking play down the right leading to a second goal – with Stott grabbing his first goal for the club with a rasping shot into the corner of the goal.

Then soon after the restart, Havant won their second penalty corner and Seccull continued his good form converting a trademark flick high into the net.

Havant continued to press forward and created further good chances which were not converted and Spencer started to get a foothold in the game.

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They won a couple of penalty corners but these were well saved by Chris Bristow in Havant’s goal.

Spencer were then awarded a penalty stroke for a rash tackle, but Bristow made a great save to preserve his clean sheet.

Havant were soon back in control and a number of forward breaks by Nail, and Wrenn, led to Havant’s fourth.

Bloomfield got on the end of some good play down the right to secure the three points for Havant.

And with all the teams at the top of the table dropping points, the visitors remain well in the title race.