New-look Havant & Waterlooville avoid FA Cup banana skin by beating lower division Horsham

Tommy Wright celebrates after scoring Hawks' second goal against Horsham. Picture: Dave Haines.

Hawks avoided an FA Cup upset in what was only their second competitive match in 204 days.

A 2-1 second qualifying round win over lower division Horsham at Bognor Regis Town’s Nyewood Lane ground might give the impression of a tight encounter.

But it was anything but that as Paul Doswell’s side were comfortable for most of the match and could easily have won by a much larger scoreline.

Hornets keeper Brad House was man of the match with a string of fine saves, while Horsham scored with their only on-target effort - and that came in the 90th minute.

Joe Iaciofano battles with Horsham's Will Miles. Picture: Dave Haines.

It was a much-changed Hawks squad to the one that had lost in the play-off semi-final to Dartford 71 days earlier - their only other competitive game since March 14.

Doswell handed seven players a competitive debut - Billy Clifford, Theo Widdington, Tommy Wright and Joe Iaciofano started with goalkeeper Joe Tupper, Lucas Sinclair and Dan Ajakaije coming off the bench.

Two other new faces (Moussa Diarra and Christian Rowe) were named on the bench while Godfrey Poku is injured.

Hawks were also without Josh Taylor, starting a three-game ban for his red card against Dartford, against a Horsham side playing their fifth competitive game of 2020/21.

Roarie Deacon battles with Jerry O'Sullivan. Picture: Dave Haines.

The Sussex club were not without their own problems, though - ex-Bognor favourite Doug Tuck, key midfielder Kieran Monlouis and striker Eddie Dsane (the two-goal hero in the previous round win against Kingstonian) among the walking wounded with ex-Dorking midfielder Lewis Taylor suspended.

House had already denied Wright and Roarie Deacon when the latter fired Hawks ahead on the half-hour mark. Chesting down a lovely cross-field pass from Widdrington, he waited for House to advance off his line before poking the ball into the far corner.

House tipped a rasping Benny Read shot over for a corner as Hawks always looked the more likely side to score again.

Doswell was forced into a half-time change when Ross Worner was withdrawn following a collision shortly after Deacon’s goal. Collecting a low cross, he was clattered by Rob O’Toole and received lengthy treatment before continuing. To Hawks’ annoyance, ref Dan Simpson failed to show O’Toole a yellow card.

Roarie Deacon opens Hawks' scoring against Horsham. Picture: Dave Haines.

Tupper was a spectator for most of the second half, dealing with occasional back passes only, as Hawks remained comfortable. Though Isthmian Premier League side Horsham worked tirelessly, they lacked quality in the final third.

Wright doubled the lead on 57 minutes, netting from just inside the area, and it was almost 3-0 when Iaciofano played a one-two with Benny Read only to see House pull off another fine stop.

House again denied Iaciofano on 72 minutes, after being set up by Widdrington.

Horsham reduced the arrears in the closing stages when left-back Harvey Sparks’ fine cross was headed in by a diving Will Miles - a centre half pushed up into attack late on.

Hawks goalkeeper Ross Worner gets a shin in face from Rob O'Toole that was to force him off at half-time against Horsham. Picture: Dave Haines.

There was no chance of an equaliser which would have taken the tie straight to penalties.

Indeed, Hawks could have extended their lead - Widdrington’s effort saved by House and Ajakaije firing into the side netting.

Hawks: Worner (Tupper, 46), Read, Straker, Robson, Magri, Widdrington, Clifford (Ajakaije, 80), Gomis, Wright, Iaciofano (Sinclair, 77), Deacon.

Horsham: House, Metcalfe, Sparks, Harris, Miles, Day, O’Toole (Merchant, 80), O’Sullivan, Hll, Smith (Ray, 73), Harding (Charman, 73).