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Sunday, October 19, 2025

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Hawks edge tight battle

AFC Varsity 0 Havant & Waterlooville 1

Havant and Waterlooville gained a valuable three points in their Southern Region Division One South away clash with AFC Varsity at Hatches Farm Sports Ground.

With the sides level on points in mid-table, it was always destined to be a close affair and so it proved after a well contested match. A first half penalty, converted by EJ May was the difference but both sides had good chances to have altered the outcome.

 

Varsity looked the greater threat early on with speedy attackers worrying the visiting defence but unable to test Sadah Luce, the Hawks keeper. At the other end Emily Wernham was prominent in providing the counter attack threat down the left. She had already gone close before drawing the foul which led to the spot kick confidently converted by skipper May just after the half hour.

 

The hosts had the ball in the net on 41 minutes after a long clearance caught the Hawks defence out but, after prolonged consultation between the officials,  the goal was ruled out and a free kick awarded to Hawks.

 

The second half proved to be frustrating for both teams despite an unrelenting pace and frequent sights of goal at both ends. Defences were generally sound and well organised protecting both keepers effectively. On the odd occasion that Varsity got in on goal Luce was quick off her line to clear. A confident home appeal for a penalty on 58 minutes was denied and the hosts were unable to find an equaliser which might well have been a fair reflection of a well contested match.

 

Havant and Waterlooville thus moved closer to the divisional leaders AFC Stoneham but with a single point covering the top seven teams, there is still all to play for in Division One South.   

AFC Varsity: Jade Collins, Armiee Akpobire, Kelly Bailey, Katie Finn, Beth Maxwell, Eloise Paine, Megan Goff, Jess Nunn, Kayleigh Rogers, Annabel Pollard, Georgia Sims. Subs: Melissa Bray-Spicer, Kimberley Card, Gurinder Rayat, Beth Ebert, Vicky Jones.

Havant & Waterlooville: Sara Luce, Mia Gardner, Emily Tilley, Jodie Burchell, Emily Wernham, Emma-Jane May, Rebecca Rafferty, Millie Underwood, Isobel Humphrey, Tia Hooper, Caitlin Webb. Subs: Evie Griffiths, Ruby Harris-Pritt, Millie McNamara.