Excellent Havant win clash with Chichester

The game looked in the balance late into the second half with the score at 3-3.

During the contest Chichester three times came back from a goal behind.

But Havant scored an excellent penalty corner and an open play goal in the last minute to take all three points.

This result moves Havant up into fourth position in the league table on nine points.

Charlie Stubbings scored Havant's first goal on five minutes.

Ethan Hoddle's deflected shot was saved by Chris Bristow in the Chichester goal.

But the rebound fell into the path of Charlie who made no mistake hitting the ball high into the net.

It only took Chichester two minutes to level the score after Maciej Pacanowski had made a save.

The ball got stuck under his body and while he tried to clear the ball to safety Alex Baxter reacted quicker than anyone else to collect and send the ball into the Havant goal at short range.

After end-to-end hockey Havant won their first penalty corner in the 18th minute.

Bristow dived low to save the initial shot but pushed the ball into Chris Smith who had run towards the goal having injected the corner.

Smith made no mistake with the finish.

Three minutes later Jack Stubbings looked like he was going to put Havant further ahead.

But Chris Bristow closed him down quickly and the chance was gone.

Keeper Maciej made some good saves.

He was helped out by Craig Duffy to deny Chichester the chance to level.

But the home side did get back on terms before the break.

A defensive error gifted Chichester the ball on the top of the circle and Charlie Gibbons made no mistake sending the teams into half-time level.

Chichester started the second half well.

But Charlie Stubbings scored with a spectacular shot in the 41st minute to put Havant ahead again.

His ferocious reverse stick hit, from the left side of the circle, rocketed into the net.

Again Chichester were not to be denied, though, and on 52 minutes Charlie Gibbons touched the ball home for 3-3.

On 62 minutes Havant won their second penalty corner when Jack Stubbings was fouled in the circle, his retaliation earning a five minute yellow card.

The resulting corner was converted by Federico Bertoni with an outstanding flick giving Bristow no chance.

Chichester won two late penalty corners that were both saved by Maciej.

And in a last-ditch move or another equaliser Chichester changed Bristow for a kicking back.

This went wrong for them when Miguel Rodrigues found the empty net in the last minute of the game to wrap up Havant's victory.

- report by Chris Pickett