Tomorrow night’s game is the first opportunity for our fans to support the team away from home this campaign, albeit in a pre-season friendly Prior to welcoming West Ham and Chatham Town to West Sussex, a Worthing side consisting of several new players fell to a 3-0 defeat in a behind-closed-doors friendly away to a Brighton & Hove Albion academy outfit at the Seagulls’ training centre.
On the weekend, an early penalty from Jack Spong and a second-half goal from Bailey Smith was enough to earn a 2-0 victory over Chatham at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium. There were plenty of positives to take from the triumph, including a first clean sheet for MK Dons loanee Seb Stacey.
That result sealed consecutive wins for Chris Agutter’s side following our 4-1 dismantling of a West Ham XI the previous weekend.
Our trip to Westleigh Park is the first of three successive away friendlies. This Saturday sees the Reds travel to the Dripping Pan to face Lewes before ‘Agi’ visits his former side Hastings United next Wednesday.
The Opposition
Havant & Waterlooville are gearing up for their second straight season in the Southern League Premier Division South following their relegation from the sixth tier in the 2023/24 season.
The Hawks agonisingly missed out on the play-offs last term, as they finished in sixth position and just a solitary point behind fifth-placed Dorchester Town.
Tomorrow’s hosts have played four pre-season friendlies this summer, with their most recent test last Tuesday ending in a 2-1 away loss to Horndean.
That defeat put an end to an unbeaten start to pre-season, with victories over Baffins Milton Rovers and a young AFC Wimbledon side preceding a 1-1 draw away to Chichester City.
Previous Meeting
Worthing 3-2 Havant & Waterlooville, FA Cup, Saturday 14th September 2024
There was late drama in our last encounter with the Hawks, as debutant Muhammadu Faal haunted his former employers with a late winner.
Last season’s FA Cup campaign started with a draw against the recently-relegated Havant & Waterlooville at Woodside Road. Despite the game being played in mid-September, it was only our second home game of the season due to the construction of our North Stand.
The visitors struck first in the tie, as Keane Anderson swept an accurate finish past Chris Haigh and into the bottom corner midway through the first half.
Chris Agutter’s side couldn’t muster a response before the break, but managed to draw themselves level through a moment of magic from Jack Spong.
After a prolific start to the campaign, the midfielder delicately placed a free-kick from the edge of the box into the top corner to restore parity with 20 minutes remaining.
However, our joy was short-lived, as Havant regained the lead five minutes later. Ryan Seager bundled home from close-range to put Shaun North’s side back in control.
The Rebels faced elimination from the world’s oldest cup competition at the earliest stage, until a second equaliser arose in the 85th minute. Following industrious work by youngster Ollie Starkey, a goal-mouth scramble culminated with Tommy Willard smashing the ball past opposition ‘keeper Ben Dudzinski to keep his side in the FA Cup.
With a replay on the cards, there was still a chance for a winner in the dying embers. Just two minutes after Willard’s leveller, the hosts were awarded a corner after Dudzinski denied Babalola. Spong’s subsequent delivery landed on the head of Faal, who improvised smartly to flick the ball into the corner and send the home faithful into raptures.
Faal earned hero status just hours after signing as his winner was enough to see his new side progress into the third qualifying round.
Tickets
Match Tickets are available to purchase from Havant & Waterlooville’s official website.
Adult: £10
Concession: £5
Under 16*: FREE
*Under 16’s attending the fixture will be admitted free of charge, however they must be accompanied by an Adult or Concession and must remain with them at all times as per Havant’s Safeguarding regulations
Tickets can be purchased online in advance of Matchday here: https://havantandwaterloovillefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/hawks_vs_worthing__pre_season_friendly
Alternatively, admission can be purchased on the gate using cash or card payments!
How to Follow
If you can’t be at the game tomorrow, you can follow the game via live updates from the Club’s official Twitter account.
Alternatively, live commentary will be provided on the Club’s official Mixlr account.
