The Peacocks face their most difficult game of the season to date when they travel to Havant & Waterlooville in the 2ndQualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup tomorrow afternoon (21st September), kick-off 3.00pm.
Having comfortably beaten Winchester City 3-0 away in the previous round a fortnight ago, Town would have been hoping for a more straightforward home draw in this round but instead were pitted against one of the leading clubs in National League South. The Hawks were relegated from the National League last season but have enjoyed a successful start to their campaign at South level, currently lying in third position having been unbeaten in their first ten fixtures, a run which was ended last Saturday when Braintree Town won 3-1 at Westleigh Park in front of a crowd of 1351.
The scale of the Peacocks’ challenge should not be underestimated then but they will be mindful of their record against National League South teams in recent seasons when they have disposed of Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hemel Hempstead Town, Concord Rangers and St Albans City in national cup competitions and only narrowly went out to Billericay Town in the Emirates FA Cup following a replay last year. Town will again need to be at their very best tomorrow to cause another cup upset and secure a very handy £6,750 prize money but they go into the tie in good shape themselves.
Tuesday evening’s draw against Dorchester Town was the Peacock’s eighth unbeaten, six of which have been in the league which has seen them consolidate a comfortable 8th spot berth, six points behind leaders Chesham United.
Havant & Waterlooville were condemned to their first National League South defeat of the season last Saturday at the hands of Braintree Town who walked away from Hampshire with a 3-1 win in front of a crowd of 1351. The defeat saw the Hawks slip to third in the National South League table, 10 points behind leaders Wealdstone.
The Peacocks have recalled on loan Jack Rice and goes into the squad travelling to Hampshire. Nick Grimes faces a fitness test and Ed Palmer is unavailable.
Head of Football Rob Dray comments; “So, on to the next round. We are under no illusions about how difficult this tie will be however as we have proved we are not bad in one- off games against opposition from higher leagues. We will pay due respect to Havant & Waterlooville as they deserve but, at 3pm on a Saturday we fear nobody”.
On The Road – Havant & Waterlooville
Ground: Westleigh Park, Martin Road, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 5TH
Directions: Approaching from the north (A3/A3M)
Follow the A3 south until it becomes the A3M.
Just after it does take the B2149 turning, signposted to Emsworth. At the top of the slip road turn left along Dell Piece East, follow the road to a small roundabout and turn right.
Continue along this road into Rowlands Castle and you’ll be confronted by a small double roundabout with a Harvester restaurant on the left. Go straight over the first and right at the second, taking the road running down the right hand side of the Shell petrol station.
Follow this road round until it becomes a dual carriageway. At the first set of traffic lights turn left into Bartons Road. The ground will be on your right.
At the top of the hill immediately after a pedestrian crossing, turn right into Martin Road. The entrance to the ground is several hundred yards along the road on your right.
Approaching from the east/west (A27)
Turn off the A27 into Havant at the Hayling Island roundabout (A3023). If coming from the west this is the first exit after the A3M split.
Follow the road through the town centre until you go over the railway and come to a roundabout.
Go straight on, through four sets of traffic lights. At the fifth, (after a garage on your right and the Heron pub on your left), turn right into Bartons Road.
The ground will be on your right. At the top of the hill immediately after a pedestrian crossing, turn right into Martin Road. The entrance to the ground is several hundred yards along the road on your right.
Parking: There is limited free parking on site at Westleigh Park, with free on road parking locally.
Admission: Adults £12, Concessions £10, Under 12’s £3.
There is no segregation for this fixture.
Most recent meetings: This will be the first ever meeting between the sides. However, the Peacocks have previously played against Waterlooville FC who merged with Havant Town in 1998 to form the current club. Town met the old club four times during their first tenure in the Southern League during the late 1970’s, drawing both home games and losing away, most recently by a 2-1 score line in April 1979.