For 60 minutes it was a tight and competitive affair, however brilliant finishes by Laidlaw and Seager gave the visitors all three points, despite going down to ten men. Wimborne pulled a goal back through Morgan in injury time, but it proved to be too little too late.

 

Tim made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Hanwell last Tuesday, with Ross Flitney returning between the sticks and Owen Roundell coming in for Billy Walker.

 

The game got off to a fast start; Anderson flashed the ball across the box for the visitors just two minutes in, before Burrows had two near-identical efforts firing volleys narrowly wide whilst trying to catch out Hawks keeper Dudzinski.

 

The hosts were now in the ascendency and on 20 minutes a pinball in the area nearly resulted in the game’s opening goal. From a free kick Morgan and Wright both had shots blocked, before the ball fell at the feet of Fletcher who could only fire over whilst on the stretch.

 

On the half hour mark Havant countered and went long, with Seager brought down just outside the box by Flitney, earning the experienced shotstopper a caution. The wall did its job from the resulting free kick, but eight minutes later Flitney was called into action again. A corner was taken short, and with Laidlaw sizing up his options, he unleashed a rasping effort which seemed destined for the top corner, only to be denied by Flitney at full stretch.

 

The visitors came close again on the stroke of half time when Kealy fired Wilson’s knock down narrowly wide, bringing a competitive but goalless half to a close.

 

The second half burst into life ten minutes in. The visitors were the first to come close when Kealy was picked out down the left, cutting back for Maloney to firmly strike an effort towards goal, only to be denied by an excellent reaction stop by Flitney.

 

Just a minute later it was Wimborne’s turn to came close. Burrows charged down Dudzinski, with the loose ball falling to Lovell who composed himself but was denied by a block on the line. The resulting corner was met by a Jackson header, but he too was denied by a fine stop down low.

 

On the hour mark came what proved to be the turning point of the match, when the linesman spotted an elbow by Kealy on Roundell off the ball, calling over the referee to give the forward his marching orders.

 

However, the Magpies didn’t make their man-advantage count, as it was the Hawks who struck. After Munn had brought down his man just outside the box, Laidlaw stepped up to stroke home a superb free kick into the top corner.

 

With Wimborne chasing the game, gaps were starting to appear, and a ball over the top saw Seager control before lobbing a fine finish over Flitney to double the visitors lead with seven minutes left to play.

 

Morgan restored some hope three minutes into injury time when he twisted, turned and fired a low effort into the bottom corner. A fine goal, but it proved to be nothing more than just a consolation with the referee bringing the game to a close shortly after.

 

For Wimborne it’s a familiar recent tale of chances being created but not taken, whilst the opposition clinically take theirs. This is something that will need to be put right soon, as a busy few weeks continue with league leaders Merthyr visiting on Saturday, before derby day with Poole next Tuesday.

 

Flitney; Eccott-Young, Wright, Roundell, Jackson; Scorey (Bedford 76’), Morgan, Munn (Neale 70’); Burrows, Lovell, Fletcher (Holmes 70’).

Unused subs: Walker, Roberts.

Attendance: 437

Match stats:

	Magpies	Hawks
Goal attempts on target	7	4
Goal attempts off target	8	4
Goal attempts blocked	2	3
Corners	2	4
Fouls conceded	15	10
Offside	1	4
Cards	3Y	1R, 1Y