Town manager Frank Gray could have asked for little more from his players on Saturday after they had battled to earn a second chance at progressing into the 1st round proper of the FA Trophy. Further casualties from Saturday had ruled out David Pratt and Jay Gasson with Jahson Downes up front on his own and Alex Charlick and Elliott Hobden called to the bench from the Youth Team.
The first half of this game lacked everything of Saturdays game with no drama or excitement and the home side had edged and took a 1-0 lead into half-time. Town had an early scare on 3 minutes as Sammy Igoe played in Mustafa Tiryaki and Simon Moore was forced to rush out and save at his feet.
Downes wasted a good run, and turning his man, by blasting a shot high and wide from over 25 yards.
A Matt Warner free kick fell to Steve Laidler who produced a fine save from home ‘keeper Aaron Howe and Ross Adams headed wide from the corner. Town broke away with a 3 on 1 on 16 minutes and Matt Pattison’s through ball was just too far in front of Laidler as he was bearing down on goal.
The game went through a scrappy quarter of an hour but was ignited on 32 minutes when Sam Pearce the home centre half was booked for a clumsy challenge on the lively Downes. Steve Laidler duly converted the Warner free kick but the goal was chalked off with Laidler adjudged offside and Howe receiving a yellow card for his challenge on Laidler in the incident. In a repeat of Bristol Manor Farm earlier in the season having had a goal ruled out at one end Town immediately conceded at the other. Moore came out to meet the advancing Havant forward hesitated and the ball was squared to Wes Fogden who put the home side one up.
Bobby Hopkinson was lucky not to be booked for a poor challenge on his opposite number Laidler but 7 minutes later the Town man received a yellow card for a similar foul on Hopkinson. Howe was lucky in injury time as he came well out of his area and the ball hit him on his upper arm, had he handled he would have received his marching orders.
Half-time: Havant & Waterlooville 1 Basingstoke Town 0
Town started the second half as they had done so a week previous on this ground, forcing the home side to defend. Downes was brought back for a marginal offside when he would have been through 1 on 1 with the home ‘keeper. Pattison and Rob rice linked well to set up Laidler but he blasted wide.
Town got their reward on 53 minutes when Pattison played in Downes down the right. Both of these players caused the home side problems all evening and Downes crossed inch perfect for Warner to head home. This rocked the home side and fans, and Town now began to take control. Tiryaki shot tamely wide from distance but the chances were coming at the other end. Downes twisted and turned his man and fired wide from 25 yards. Pattison crossed from the right and the ball flicked on by a home defender found Warner who produced a point blank save from Howe. Good work from Downes found Warner and his cross fell just short of Lake at the near post.
Town took the lead on 71 minutes, Pattison played in Warner and he was brought down on the edge of the box. Up stepped Rob Rice who put the visitors in the lead. The hosts pushed hard in the last 10 minutes and the ever effective Tiryaki thought he had squared things on 81 minutes but fired wide from close range. The same player shot wide from the edge of the box and substitute Michael Abnett headed wide from a Fogden cross.
Town held on to take a deserved victory over the two games and meet Salisbury City in the next round.
Town; Moore, Rice, Finlay, Adams, Reynolds, Lake, Pattison, Laidler, Downes sub (Smart 90 min), Williamson, Warner. Subs (not used) Frewen, Charlick, Hobden, Allen.
