havantvbromfayc020903

West Leigh Park hosts reserve team football for Premiership neighbours Portsmouth and Pompey have helped out their Dr Martens League Premier Division neighbours by spending money on the pitch.  The playing surface was in immaculate condition.

After Bromley’s Chris Hill was off target from distance after four minutes, Ravens goalkeeper Dean Cairns blocked Brad Fairweather’s shot after twelve minutes as the home side tried to unlock a Bromley defence well marshalled by first team member John Butler.

A good move from the home side after 22 minutes saw Fairweather go close from sixteen yards as his shot fired narrowly over Cairns crossbar.  Cairns was tested by Glen Knight’s shot shortly afterwards.

Bromley showed grit and determination around the pitch, supported by seven loyal followers but unfortunately lacked the fire power upfront and someone to hold the ball up and bring team-mates into play.

First team prospect, Edwin Mante delivered a telling cross after sixteen minutes and goalkeeper Simon Howard, who was shaky throughout the game, collected.  Mante, playing down the left wing, crossed again and Jack Hicks fired over Howard’s crossbar.

Bromley were restricted to long range shots throughout the game as the home side were solid and strong at the back.  Pearce fired over from distance before Howard was tested by Mante’s long range effort.

After Havant raised the tempo in the final moments of the half, Bromley did very well to go in at the break goaless, and coaching staff Dave Cairns, Steve Kinchin and George Leggett were able to rally their troops for the second half battle.

The opening exchanges saw the game open up and Knight went close to open the scoring for Havant & Waterlooville but he fired wide of the right post when left unmarked.

Jon Paine fired another long range Bromley effort wide before livewire Fairweather turned on the ball before shooting off target for the home side.

Then after sixty one minutes came the controversial moment in the game.  Havant played a long ball over the Bromley defence and was chased by Fairweather and Bromley defender Bell.  Bell was leading the chase but he was pushed by Fairweather and no foul was given for Bromley outside the penalty area.  Fairweather used this advantage to get inside the penalty area but Bell appeared to have made a fine last ditch saving tackle inside the penalty area.

Unfortunately, the assistant referee on the dug out side of the stadium waved his flag to gain the Referee, Ian Thomson’s attention.

After a long discussion the Referee pointed to the penalty spot.  There was more drama before the penalty was taken when the home supporters sitting in the stand roared and the other assistant waved his flag furiously.

The Referee walked over to him and then called Jon Paine over before flashing a red card.  Paine was shown the red card for “foul and abusive gestures to the crowd”, said Kinchin after the game.

So back to the penalty kick, which was taken three minutes after the initial incident.  Bromley thought justice was done when Fairweather’s penalty bobbled wide of the foot of the left post.

Ten-man Bromley were spurred on by their team-spirit and loyal followers, and Hill’s header was saved by Howard after 66 minutes.  Bromley dug in and the home side weren’t up for the battle.

Inside the last twelve minutes, Hawks Sam Pearce struck a right-footed shot narrowly wide of the right post as the Ravens players were suffering with tiredness.

Mante almost gave Bromley victory when his 80^th minute free kick from forty yards dipped narrowly over the crossbar.

Havant piled on the pressure with Gary Swain shooting wide of the right post following another surge from the home side.  The home side were reduced to ten men when Fairweather was shown a red card for a reckless two-footed tackle on Butler after 82 minutes.

With only two minutes left on the clock, Andy Dickens beat the Bromley defence and only had goalkeeper Cairns to beat.  Cairns made a fine save, getting down low to his left to stop the ball finding the net.

But it wasn’t going to be brave Bromley’s night as their hearts were broken when the home side scored the winning goal three minutes and twenty-eight seconds into stoppage time.

The Hawks played another long ball over the Bromley defence and Wales’ under 19 international, substitute Craig Newman latched onto the ball firing into the net via the left post.

Proud Bromley were reduced to nine men in the ninth minute of stoppage time.  Hawks unlocked Bromley’s defence with another long ball and last defender, Richard McEnery, who was just about to be substituted, brought down Jake Lafferty just outside the penalty area.

Bromley were a credit to the club with the way their battled throughout the game, but it will be Havant & Waterlooville who will host Erith Town in the next round.  The Dockers beat Leatherhead 4-1 on Monday night.

Havant & Waterlooville:  Simon Howard, Keiran Wallace (Jake Lafferty 74),  Dan Lavery, Sam Pearce, Phil Turrell, Owen Elias, Gary Swain, Glen Knight, Brad Fairweather (sent off 82), Andy Dickens, Dan Gauntlett (Craig Newman 67, Chris Coe 90+)  Subs:  Matt Byne, Ryan White.