Havant target ending home campaign on a high against old rivals Fareham

Havant are out to finish their National League Division 1 South home campaign with a flourish when they welcome Fareham on Sunday.
Havant head coach Raj Laly. Picture: Neil Marshall (171324-30)Havant head coach Raj Laly. Picture: Neil Marshall (171324-30)
Havant head coach Raj Laly. Picture: Neil Marshall (171324-30)

The old rivals have very different ambitions with just two games of the season remaining.

Havant sit in fifth hot on the heels of place above Team Bath Bucaneers as they pursue a top four finish this term.

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That's in stark contrast to where Fareham find themselves with two games to go.

They are six points adrift at the foot of the table with the worst goal difference in the league, so survival looks a long shot.

But for Havant head coach Raj Laly, there will be no sympathy as they prepare to face their old rivals.

‘Certainly the Fareham game, a well known derby we’ve had with them over the years, is a really good one to prepare for,’ said the Havant head coach.

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‘We can end with a win against them and another win in our last game of the season.

‘At the beginning of the season our goal was always to be in the top four.

‘We have to win our last two games to have any chance.

‘I’m pretty sure if we win our last two games, we’ll be in the top four.

‘Fareham always raise their game against Havant and form in essence goes out of the window, which is probably a good thing for both sides.’

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Havant were placed in a higher division after a league restructure last summer.

Despite remaining in with a chance of a top four finish, there is still a tinge of disappointment for Laly that his side are not challenging for the top honours.

‘We have gone through a bit of a tricky patch,’ added Laly.

‘Two weeks ago we were in the frame to potentially win the league.

‘But then one or two results did not go our way.

‘Since that time, it’s been difficult to get back to winning ways.

‘In essence, we haven’t had a huge amount to play for.

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‘There is a slight disappointment in terms of not making a bit more of a go of it.‘In terms of reaching the top positions.

‘We just have to be a bit realistic.

‘If we are able to reach that top four, which was always my personal goal, then I think we have to be happy with that.’

Havant had planned to host a food festival and fun day prior to the afternoon men's match.

However, having followed coronavirus developments closely, the club decided to postpone as there were 'strong indications that the event would not attended to the level required to make the event commercially viable.

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