Havant & Waterlooville’s remarkable away league record is finally ended at National League South leaders Dartford

It was the first time the Hawks have tasted defeat on their travels since a 2-0 loss at Aldershot on Bank Holiday Monday, April 22, 2019 - an incredible 558 days previously!

When the National League South season was halted last March, Paul Doswell’s men possessed the only undefeated away league record in the top six tiers of English football.

With 11 wins and six draws from 17 games, they were on course to become the first club in the top six tiers to go an entire away league season unbeaten since Arsenal in 2003/04.

Hawks extended their remarkable run at the start of this season with victory in their first NL South game at Billericay.

Doswell believes his side could easily have forced a draw against their table-topping Kent hosts, who have now gone nine league matches against Hawks without losing.

'I think a point for each side would have been fair but we weren't very clever in the second half,' said Doswell.

'We gave away two soft goals, a penalty and one from a free-kick.

'Having a player sent off a minute after pulling a goal back stifled our momentum.

'Dartford slowed the game down and managed the rest of the game.

'The first half was a midfield battle between two well organised teams with not a lot of space.

'We had the majority of the opening 45 minutes.'

The visitors made one change with Bedsente Gomis replacing the injured Benny Read.

Though the rain had stopped by the start, both teams still had a blustery wind to contend with.

Josh Taylor had the first chance for the Hawks on 16 minutes when his low shot bounced away off the legs of goalkeeper Craig King.

Both teams cancelled each other out with few clear-cut chances.

Dartford broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.

Craig Robson was adjudged to have brought down Noor Husin and Jack Barham hammered his spot-kick past Ross Worner.

Within two minutes Barham put another great chance wide of the target.

He wasn't to miss out on 71 minutes, though, when he scored with a glancing header from a free-kick.

Taylor pulled a goal back eight minutes later but almost immediately midfielder Billy Clifford was sent off for a second bookable offence.

'It is disappointing to see our incredible away record end but I suppose it had to happen sometime,' said Doswell.

'Everyone knows how difficult it is to get anything away from home.

'We got sucked into being ill-disciplined and that isn't us.

'It was a game between two teams who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

'Ultimately we are three games in with 37 games still to play.'

Dartford have now lost only one of their last 18 regular season NL South games.

Hawks: Worner, Taylor, Magri, Robson, Diarra, Straker, Gomis (Widdrington, 67), Clifford, Deacon (Ajakaiye, 72), Wright, Iaciofano (Sinclair 72).

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Former Hawks loanee Ryan Seager scored twice as Hungerford ended Dorking’s 100 per cent start to the NL South season.

The Berkshire club were bottom when last season was ended abruptly, but are now second after four wins and a draw in their opening five matches.

Seager, who started his career at Southampton, had a spell on loan at Westleigh Park in the first half of last season.