Havant & Waterlooville 2-3 Hanwell Town

Hanwell produced one of their best spells of football this season to claim a 3-2 win at Havant & Waterlooville and banish the memories of recent poor performances.

Joe Wilson opened the scoring inside the first five minutes with a fine curling shot only for Ryan Seager to equalise from the penalty spot after Harry Seabrook was deemed to have fouled Ethan Giwa-McNeil. However, Mohamed Bettamer, on debut, headed home from Dan Carr’s corner after 29 minutes.

Carr found the net himself from the penalty spot three minutes later and it was the second piece of penalty controversy as the referee pointed to the spot as Harry Hoath fired home.

After defeats at home to Dorchester Town and away at Evesham in the run up to the fixture, Geordies fans made the trip south apprehensive of what was in store.

Chris Moore made three changes in personnel as well as a formation change, moving from 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3. Roberto Nditi, Dwayne Duncan and Harry Seabrook took the centre back roles with Dan Carr and Joe Wilson starting on the left and right flanks respectively. Callum Woodcock and Harry Hoath retained their places in the middle of the pitch. Up front, Mooro shuffled his pack with Mohamed Bettamer coming in to make his debut in place of Bradley Clayton, who dropped to the bench. Alfie Pendlebury started over Gianni Crichlow in the starting XI with Harry Rice coming in for the injured Jordy Mongoy.

Bettamer made an instant impact as, inside the first five minutes he won the ball midway inside the Havant half and spread the ball out to Wilson. The Geordies full back cut in from the right and, when the opening was available, curled a left footed shot into the far corner of the net to give Hanwell the lead.

Havant should have responded immediately as, first, Mitch Aston saw his shot well saved when clean through on goal and, from the resulting corner, Oliver Pendlebury headed over with the goal gaping.

The Hawks did deserve to be level but the way they equalised on 20 minutes was harsh on the Geordies. Seabrook was harshly penalised for bringing down Giwa-McNeil as it certainly appeared that the Havant winger went down very easily. Seager stepped up and fired home past the despairing dive of Sam Beasant.

After the difficulties of previous games, Hanwell could have collapsed. Instead they put together one of their best passages of play all season. The Geordies forced a corner and, from Carr’s delivery, Bettamer rose highest at the back post to head home and restore the lead.

Hanwell doubled their advantage three minutes later and it came in controversial fashion. Alfie Pendlebury was played clean through and his effort well saved by Lorenz Ferdinand, son of Manchester United legend Rio. As the Hanwell striker went to shoot,  he was brought down by the stopper. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. Had he waited a second before making his decision, he would have seen Hoath fire the ball into the back of the net. Instead, the goal was disallowed and Hanwell had a penalty.

Coincidentally, this exact situation has happened to Millwall on two occasions with Lee Probert being the offending match official both times. The first in 2012 when Harry Kane, then on loan from Tottenham, found the net only for a penalty to have been given for a foul on Andy Keogh. Darius Henderson saw his spot kick saved. Five years later in 2017, Lee Gregory put the ball in the net only for the referee to bring the play back for a penalty as Jed Wallace had been fouled. Gregory missed the spot kick.

Carr, though, did not suffer the same fate as Henderson or Gregory as his penalty was true and gave the Geordies a 3-1 lead and they controlled the game going into the break.

Having got the lead, Hanwell set about playing the football they wanted to play by encouraging Havant to commit bodies forward and hit them on the counter. Nigel Atangana came closest midway through the second half as his header, which was dipping under the crossbar, was turned over the bar by Beasant.

Hoath was looking dangerous when Hanwell countered and his effort was well saved by Ferdinand.

The Geordies started to tire and this allowed Havant to push more bodies forward and pump balls into the box with Chris Moore reluctant to change a system that had worked perfectly for 80 minutes. The changes he did make were forced as Bettamer and Wilson had run themselves into the ground as they looked to see the game out.

Hanwell did have a nervy 60 seconds as, despite a great save from Beasant, the ball fell to Brendan Willson who fired home. However, the Geordies were able to hold on and take all three points back with them up the A3.

Hanwell: Beasant, Wilson (Miles 83), Nditi, Duncan, Seabrook, Carr, Woodcock, Hoath, Bettamer (Cole 83), Pendlebury, Rice

Subs not used: Clayton, Patrick, Crichlow.