Red mist descends as beavers win battle of Westleigh Park

Ten months ago, while Havant & Waterlooville were in the midst of their exciting FA Cup run, Hampton went to Westleigh Park and won 3-0 with a superb display.

This time, the Beavers again won by three goals, but the two matches couldn`t have been more different.

This victory was gritty in the extreme and included a full-scale punch up that resulted in four players, two from each side, being sent off.

At the time, Hampton were leading 2-1 and went on to score twice more.

The match was a lively, physical contest.

Ben Wright opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he seized on a loose ball and, without a moment's hesitation, lashed it in from 20 yards out, Havant keeper Kevin Scriven beaten by pace and swerve.

John Scarborough made a great clearance to deny Havant from his six-yard area in the 25th minute.

On the half-hour, Robbie Kember was booked for what was probably his first foul and, a few minutes later, Marcello Fernandes suffered the same fate, in between times Matt Lovett made an excellent save diving across to his left.

Wright complained when a Havant player followed through on a challenge and raked the back of his leg but nothing was given. Frustration with the officials was building up.

Wright almost made it 2-0 with a screamer of a shot that just cleared the bar.

The second half was only 48 seconds old when Hampton scored their second.

Barrie Matthews' corner was slung over and seemed to end up in the back of the net, untouched, but the sight of Ian Hodges wheeling away with his arm in the air told you all you needed to know, Hodges had got the faintest of touches to divert the ball into the net.

In the 55th minute, Lovett came to the rescue when he fell on to the ball gratefully after the ball had pinged around his area for fully thirty seconds.

On the hour Havant pulled a goal back, Craig Watkins scoring with a shot just inside the post.

Then a couple of minutes later, all hell broke loose. Watkins lunged into Tanner as both players went into the challenge (the Hampton full back had to be helped off after the dust settled), and then players from both sides squared up.

Punches were exchanged, and the officials were struggling to bring order.

Eventually Watkins and Jay Conroy, of Havant, were sent off, as were Beavers Orlando Jeffrey and Robbie Kember.

After play restarted, Hampton settled down to the situation much quicker, while Havant`s resolve seemed to melt away in the sunshine.

Two shots in quick succession were cleared off Havant`s line but then Scarborough got onto the end of a Matthews cross and headed Hampton into a 3-1 lead.

Within minutes, it was 4-1 as a fierce shot from Ryan Lake took a slight deflection on its way into the net.

This was certainly a hard-won victory, with a sound defensive display at the back that snuffed out most of Havant`s attacks, that moves Hampton up to seventh but may also cost the Beavers dear in suspensions.

Hampton: Matt Lovett; Marcello Fernandes, Craig Tanner (Ryan Lake, 60), Orlando Jeffrey, John Scarborough, Dean Wells, Robbie Kember, Francis Quarm, Ian Hodges, Ben Wright (Elliott Brathwaite, 61), Barrie Matthews.

Subs not used: Lawrence Yaku & Chris Robinson

Bookings: Robbie Kember (2), Marcello Fernandes, Craig Tanner, Barrie Matthews & Elliott Brathwaite.

Sent off: Orlando Jeffrey

Man of the match: John Scarborough

Meanwhile at the Beveree, Hampton`s reserves progressed into the next round of the Suburban League Cup with a 3-0 win over Horley Town.