Frank Gray must be wondering what more his side have to do in order to take the points in a game. Twice in 48 hours Town dominated their opponents and at the final whistle had nothing to show.
On Monday, November 15 at Havant & Waterlooville, the hosts opened the scoring on 11 minutes and immediately the Dragons fought back.
They shaded the first half on possession but the second half was one way traffic. Most of the half ‘Stoke pushed the home side deep into their own half and the visitors played at a high tempo, passing along the ground to feet and opening up their hosts on both sides of the park but could not find a way through.
Frank Gray was forced to make changes to the side that lost to Bishops Stortford with Greg Draper and Matt Finlay failing to make the bench, Stuart Lake coming back in for Matt Pattison and Rob Rice replacing the unavailable Nathan Smart.
An even start to the game saw Town have a couple of early efforts with a speculative blast wide from Rice, and David Pratt have a shot blocked.
Visiting fans must have had a fear of two seasons ago when Town conceded five in this fixture as the home side took the lead on 11 minutes.
Mustafa Tiryaki put Giuseppe Sole through and he converted his one-on one with Simon Moore. Town had to hold on as Moore was forced to make a good save and Sole set up Manny Williams but he was forced wide and dragged his shot across the face of goal.
Town forced their way into the game and Rice fired another shot over the bar. Delano Sam-Yorke was strong and a constant threat to the home side all night. He did well to win a corner and from it the Town players and fans went up in unison for appeals for handball but referee Jon O’Brien saw no infringement.
As the half progressed the home side came under more pressure as the Dragons worked up a head of steam, but as with Saturday they could not find the fire power to convert into goals. Jide Ogunbote was replaced on the half hour by Matt Pattison after a strong challenge.
Town finished the half on top with efforts from Lake and Pattison blocked and former Town manager Ernie Howe’s son Aaron forced to make a save from a Lake header.
Lake had the best chance of the half for ‘Stoke just before the break as he collected the ball just in the area and turned and fired wide.
The second half was relentless as Town gave the hosts a footballing masterclass but were unable to find that final bit of magic. Shots were fired in and the home side spent large parts of the second half penned in their own half.
Havant defended heroically with players throwing themselves at the ball to block goalbound efforts and seemed to have 11 players behind the ball at the right time.
Lake had a header saved and more good work from Sam-Yorke saw his final shot miscued.
Pratt had a pile driver blocked by Paul Hinshelwood and this was the story of the night, home bodies always in the way.
Matt Warner broke into the box on the left hand side, pulled his shot across Howe only to see it strike the base of the far post and go wide.
Jahson Downes replaced Pratt with 13 minutes to go and almost scored with his first touch, Steve Laidler set him away and from the angle he forced Howe to beat away.
Town continued to push forward but as they ran out of steam in the final minutes the home side for the first time got out of their own half and attacked the Dragons goal.
In the dying minutes Havant had a couple of chances to kill the game but Town were given an extra 4 minutes to find an equaliser. Pushing forward left gaps and Town were undone again in the third minute of extra time when Sole was unmarked on the left and fired home.
This was a flattering score line for the home side, Town deserving at least a point on this performance but must pick themselves up to face Havant and Waterlooville again at the Camrose this Saturday for a 3.00 p.m. kick-off in the FA Trophy.
Town: Moore, Rice, Reynolds, Adams, Gasson, Lake, Ogunbote (sub Pattison 31 min), Laidler, Pratt (Sub Downes 77 min), Sam-Yorke, Warner. Subs (not used): Williamson, Allen.
