Hawks penalty miss makes it a Good Friday

A stoppage time penalty miss by the visitors saw City pick up another important point in their battle near the foot of the Vanarama National League South table in a goalless draw against play-off chasing Havant & Waterlooville at Twerton Park this afternoon. With both sides in desperate need of the points for differing reasons it was an understandably cagey game, and goal chances were in short supply at either end of the pitch until the late drama. An early Clifford shot had to be turned away for a corner by Ryan Clarke but this was a rare sight of either keeper being tested. Alex Fletcher saw a header clear the bar and Tom Smith failed to trouble Warner later in the half. The second half continued in a similar pattern, although the Hawks were beginning to enjoy the better of the possession. Several times crosses flashed dangerously across City’s six-yard box but City’s defence stood up well to the visitors efforts. The Romans were reduced to the occasional foray forward but just when the game looked to be drifting to a conclusion they were suddenly once again facing late heartbreak. With the clock ticking past the 90 minute mark a rare incisive move by Havant saw Andrews get a clear sight of goal only to be felled by Dan Ball’s desperate lunge. The referee had no other option to point to the spot but Duku blasted the spot kick against the bar to send a huge roar of relief around Twerton Park. A couple of further Havant attacked were repelled by City before the final whistle signalled the end of another eventful afternoon.