After seeing their long unbeaten home record in League games ended at the weekend, the Peacocks will be hoping to bounce back when they entertain Havant & Waterlooville in the Vanarama National League South tomorrow evening (31st January), ko 7.45pm.
Tuesday evening games under the Cygnet Health Care Stadium floodlights will become a regular occurrence over the coming weeks as Town seek to play catch up with their fixtures starting with the visit of the 3rd placed Hawks tomorrow. The game will present a severe test for the Peacocks against the full-timers who are ten points behind leaders Ebbsfleet with two games in hand as the campaign enters its final three months. Furthermore, the Hampshire side are unbeaten away from home in the National League this season, having won 8 of their 11 matches to date, so it would be a major achievement if Town were able to become the first side to topple them on the road. After a poor December in which the Hawks suffered three successive home defeats, they have recovered this month with victories over Eastbourne and Braintree but were surprisingly held at home by Hampton & Richmond Borough at the weekend in a 1-1 draw. Their pedigree as a National League side though is undisputed, having been formed in 1998 following a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and apart from season 2016-17 have been members of the National League South since 2004.
Saturday’s setback to St Albans saw the Peacocks taste defeat on home soil for the first time after 27 League matches unbeaten and they know they will need to improve their performance levels in their remaining fixtures to ensure they remain in the National League for next season. Jake Wannell serves the second game of his three match ban for his dismissal at Torquay while international clearance is still awaited for Cameron Evans. The National League have approved Ollie Tomlinson’s loan from Torquay so his involvement tomorrow evening will depend on final clearance by the FA. Head of Football Rob Dray is looking for a reaction from Saturday. “Tomorrow is a quick chance to put things right against one of the favourites. The National League is tough and we now realise how hard it is. The game against Havant and Waterlooville will be no exception but hopefully some rustiness has gone out of our system after so few games recently and we can reach the levels we will need and know we are capable of.”
Matchnight Information
Turnstiles, Bar, Club Shop and Refreshment Outlets open at 6.00pm
Admission is payable by card or cash at the turnstile only, priced at £12 for Adults, £10 for Concessions and £5 for Juniors (14-17 years). Under 14’s are free on condition they are accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied Under 14’s will not be admitted.
Printed Match Programmes will be available to purchase tomorrow from the Club Shop
The programme is also available to read online HERE
We extend our grateful thanks to tomorrow’s Match Sponsors Showtime Attractions
Last meeting: although the Peacocks have played the former Waterlooville side back in the late 1970’s whilst in the Southern League, they have only met the club in its current guise on the one occasion. Town travelled to Hampshire on Saturday 21st September 2019 for an FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying tie and were beaten 2-1. A Ben Adelsbury own goal and an Andy Drury strike gave the Hawks a two goal advantage before Shane White’s header in stoppage time reduced the arrears. Relive the match highlights HERE