Havant end City’s FA Cup hopes with comfortable Twerton Park win

City’s hopes of reaching the 1st Round proper of the FA Cup disappeared this afternoon as league rivals Havant & Waterloovile ran out 3-0 winners at a wet and windy Twerton Park. The Hawks started the game at breakneck speed and twice went close in the opening two minutes, Iaciofano just failing to get on the end of a cross from ex-Roman Anthony Straker then Callum Evans denying the same player a certain goal with a great block. The game settled down into a more even affair after this, Tom Smith shooting narrowly wide and Ryan Clarke doing well to save at the feet of Iaciofano. However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Wright made space on the edge of the box before unleashing a stunning shot into the top corner of the goal. City responded well to this blow, Lucas Tomlinson forcing a good stop from Worner and Smith seeing another effort fly just past the post, although Havant continued to look dangerous going forward. Whilst the Hawks probably just about deserved their half-time lead, City had shown enough attacking threat to harbour hopes of a second half comeback, however they struggled to recapture this form after the restart. And Havant made them pay when they added a second goal on 58 minutes, Deacon drilling a shot past Clarke from 18 yards. Moments later Donovan Wilson, making his debut after suffering a pre-season injury, got clear on goal but could only fire high and wide of Worner’s goal. Havant were now comfortably frustrating City and it wasn’t until four minutes from time that the Romans came close to finding a way back into the game, Tom Richards somehow seeing his close range effort blocked on the line by Diarra. Into stoppage time Worner produced a great save to keep out Smith’s header but with the final kick of the game an unmarked Widdrington lashed the ball home to make it 3-0 and cap a disappointing afternoon for the Jerry Gill’s side.