City moved up to thirteenth in the Dr Martens Premier Division with this, their first ever win at Havant's Westleigh Park. In the end it was a comfortable win, following a jittery first period, City defending well in the second half and creating enough chances to seal the three points much earlier than they eventually did.

City, who were unchanged from Saturday's win at home to Crawley, forced the pace in the early minutes but it was the home side who had the first opening. A miscued clearance from Colin Vowden spiralled high into the air and back towards his own goal. James Taylor reacted quickly to bring the ball down, lose the attentions of Jack Wignall and fire in a shot, but Havant's top scorer scuffed his effort straight at Martin Davies.

Two minutes later City had their opening chance and it was all the work of Robbie Simpson. He saw his chance when he took the ball down some 30 yards out, turned and powered his way through a ruck of home defenders. Home keeper Aaron Kerr was quickly off his line to block Simpson's firmly struck shot.

Havant were dealt a major blow when they had Neil Davis sent off for spitting in the direction of Adie Hayes following an innocuous tangle on seven minutes. Referee Woodward produced a straight red much to the surprise of the player. In truth he looked a little hard done by as he had appeared to spit towards the ground but City showed no sympathy and took the lead only four minutes later.

City were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out when Wilkin was bundled from behind by Alec Masson. Rob Nightingale's place kick was heading goalwards but glanced off the head of Lewis Fennemore, leaving Kerr a spectator as the ball nestled in the corner.

With everything running their way it looked as though City would push on but Havant made light of their numerical disadvantage and took the game to their visitors.

Minutes after City went in front, Havant had two glorious opportunities to pull level. Fennemore wasted a chance to make up for his own goal when he headed a Dean Blake cross into the arms of Davies, then seconds later a mix-up in midfield saw Taylor burst clear but Davies was equal to his effort, getting down superbly to smother.

City replied sixty seconds later with Wignall picking out Hayes' run with a superb 40 yard crossfield pass. The midfielder had time and space but failed to realise and snatched at the ball, firing high over the bar. City came again and Wignall's was again the provider when his inch perfect through ball sent Simpson in on goal, as he had earlier in the half, Kerr moved smartly off his line to block the youngsters shot.

Following this there was little of note in the remainder of the half, both sides passing the ball far too badly to create much to worry either keeper. The home side had what little opportunity there was. Tim Hambley sent a dipping free-kick over the bar and Taylor tried to force a Blake cross home at the near post but Steve Holden blocked as the half came to an end.

In the second period City never really looked like giving up their lead. Havant huffed and puffed, forced a few corners but City's solid defence never really gave them a sniff of the goal, a weak Blake shot that bobbled apologetically wide with four minutes remaining was all they mustered.

The visitors carved out a number of good openings as the half progressed. Bloomfield pulled a shot wide from the edge of the area early on before creating what should have been the second goal. Taking down a long pass brilliantly on his chest, Bloomfield raced to the bye-line before pulling back the most inviting of balls to Kevin Wilkin. The City strikers shot looked a goal all the way until a miraculous intervention by Masson who somehow managed to knee it over the bar from on the goal-line.

City kept up the pressure and Matt Clements saw his shot deflected over the bar after Simpson had picked him out with a chipped pass. This was quickly followed with Simpson sidefooting Wardley's pass just past the upright.

It looked like City were never going to find the second goal that would have killed off Havant's wilting challenge when Nightingale spurned a one on one situation just after the hour. Sent clear by Wardley's defence splitting pass, he, as had Simpson twice in the first half, failed to beat Kerr, the keeper rushing from his line to clutch the ball.

Soon after, Owen Paynter took to the field in place of Wilkin, and was soon in the action. Nightingale broke from midfield and fed a pass inside to the substitute who after a quick change of feet produced a shot from 18 yards, but it, as had many of City's shots on the night, went straight at Kerr. Paynter continued to look lively and almost profited from Dan Turner's weakly headed backpass, but racing in, he couldn't quite get control of the ball and it rolled away from him.

In the 78th minute City finally put the game beyond their hosts. With Havant pushing forward looking for the equaliser City broke in the shape of Bloomfield. Bobby Howe miscontrolled in the centre circle and Bloomfield pounced and was away, he knocked the ball past the last defender before out pacing Howe as he attempted to get back to atone for his error, but there was no catching City's nippy striker and he finished well with a sidefoot shot past Kerr into the corner of the net.

Havant brought on former Tamworth hotshot Warren Haughton in an attempt to rescue the game but he made little impact and it was in fact City who should have added to the scoring. With ten minutes left, Simpson whistled a shot wide of the far post and shortly afterwards Sturgess and Wardley linked up well on the flank to deliver a ball across the face of goal that was only just out of Paynter's reach.