Saturday 14 February 2004 - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

With only long-term injury absentees Russell Milton, Steve Tweddle, Mike Trought and Andy Williams unavailable manager Gary Owers made just one change to the side that started the 3-3 draw at Dover, the free from suspension Steve Jenkins returning in place of Iain Harvey. The game had barely started when Havant had a reasonable penalty shout. O’Rouke’s attempts to bring a high ball down were impeded by Steve Jones but the referee adjudged the challenge fair and waved any protests away. At the other end Josh Jeffries did win a decision from the official when he was felled by Turner. Owers’ effort was well-struck by directed straight at keeper Howells. It was becoming clear that the Hampshire side’s main threat was in the shape of pacy forward Eribenne. Several times his strong and direct running had the City defence on the retreat. However his finishing failed to match the approach work. One shot beat Paul Evans but ended up dribbling out for a throw-in and another effort was comfortably held by the keeper. With 12 minutes gone City took the lead with a rare piece of good fortune. As ever Owers was leading by example in chasing every ball and closing down opponents. When he did exactly this as Turner attempted a clearance from the edge of the 18-yard box his block sent the ball looping back toward goal. Howells got a hand to it but could not prevent it ending up in the back of the net. Scott Partridge spurned a great chance to double the lead four minutes later when Drew Shore’s perfect lobbed pass sent him clear. On his weaker left foot he could only drag a shot wide of the far post. Owers nearly got onto the end of another Partridge cross after 24 minutes and then Jeffries headed wide after more good work from City’s no.10. Eribenne had faded from the game now and what little attacking threat Havant could muster was being comfortably dealt with by City’s backline. With City so much in control the last thing the Hawks needed was to be reduced to 10 men but this is what happened a minute before the break when Partridge got the better of a leaden-footed Campbell on the edge of the box. It looked as if he may have overrun the ball but the defender’s clear tug on his shirt meant that became academic. Once the referee had awarded the free-kick, with Campbell the last defender, the red card was inevitable. The resultant set-piece came to nothing but City reached the break as content as they had been all season.

The second half began with little change in the balance of play as City went in search of a vital second goal. Bobby Ford was being allowed more and more room in midfield and it was his shot over the bar on 50 minutes that first threatened Howells’ goal. He was then involved in a neat passing move with Darren Hawkins that ended with Jeffries bringing a good save out of the visitors keeper. Another chance came and went for Partridge before City boosted their attacking options with the introduction of fit-again Frankie Bennett. He was immediately in the action racing away from the Havant defence to fire a low 25-yard shot narrowly wide. Just prior to this a Pitcher free-kick had briefly caused a scare in the City defence so it was with some relief that a second goal arrived on 66 minutes. Turner’s attempted interception from Owers’ header only succeeded in allowing Partridge a clear run on goal. Showing the sort of finishing City have been crying out for for months he rolled the ball across Howells into the net via a post. Two minutes later Jason Eaton was introduced into the attack but he only lasted four minutes before he was crudely felled by Howells six yards outside the box. Incredibly this blatant foul went unpunished although last seasons top scorer had to be replaced by teenager Sam Bailey. The remaining twenty minutes passed with little excitement as City were content to knock the ball around and give Havant no chance to produce any sort of late comeback. Ford and Partridge could have added a more representative slant to the scoreline with late chances but in City’s position the win was far and away the most important thing.