With the Lilywhites striving for an early goal Simpson swapped passes with Wilkin allowing City’s player coach a clear sight on goal beyond the last defender, Luc Curling was however alert to the danger and rushed out to block. As the home fans rued another missed opportunity the ball broke immediately on the Havant right. Switching the ball swiftly across field Paul Wood played in Warren Houghton on the edge of the box. City’s defence, caught on the back foot by the speed of the break, stood off allowing the former Tamworth striker to unleash a fierce low drive which scorched past Martin Davies on his near post, 1-0 Havant and suddenly the Milton Road atmosphere changed.

City did their best to strike back at the earliest opportunity. Wilkin combined with Wardley, given lots of room to come forward on the left, who pulled the ball back for Danny Bloomfield but Dan Turner got an important foot in which forced the former Bournemouth striker’s shot behind for a corner.

Moments later City came close yet again. A well placed Rob Nightingale corner from the left picked out Colin Vowden at the far post but having evaded the Hawks’ defence the big centre half couldn’t direct his header on target.

Critically however City failed to heed the lesson of the opening goal. On 13 minutes, Neil Davis, deep in City territory was allowed too much space and laid the ball wide right for the speedy Houghton, taking Colin Vowden out of the play in the process. Houghton played the ball into the far post where James Taylor got the wrong side of a disorganised City rearguard. His first effort was blocked by Martin Davies but the Lilywhites ‘keeper was unable to keep out the rebound as Havant doubled their lead.

Four minutes later the referee’s assistant saved City further grief, flagging for offside as Neil Champion flicked James Ford’s centre into the feet of Taylor who had struck the ball past Davies before realising he hadn’t doubled his tally.

City’s back line, so strong all season were having a torrid afternoon, in front of them the midfield were struggling to come to terms with the accurate passing and fluid movement of the Hampshire side looking much better than their mid-table position suggested, further illustrated by Dean Blake who broke through on the Havant left and shot narrowly wide.

Just before the half hour City got the lifeline they desperately needed. Excellent work by Robbie Simpson saw him hold off Alec Masson just inside the City half before playing the ball inside to Rob Nightingale, who, showing good balance, skipped around Turner and advanced on goal. Showing the composure to draw Curling the City midfielder coolly slotted the ball wide of the advancing ‘keeper.

City pushed on looking to level before the interval. Sturgess and Simpson combined to play in Nightingale but Curling was again quick to react to avert the danger. Then, from a Niven throw in the ball was worked to Wooding who arrowed a cross field ball to the far post where Danny Bloomfield rose but was unable to direct his header on target. With five minutes of the half remaining Wardley, again deep in Havant territory, fed Nightingale who showed good feet to make inroads into the penalty area before firing across Curling, forcing the Hawks’ ‘keeper to save with his legs and concede a corner. From the resultant place kick Nightingale again found Colin Vowden who despite making a clean headed connection failed to trouble Curling further.

There then followed a disastrous four minutes for City which effectively ended the game as a contest before the interval. Haughton, who played right across the front line, outpaced Vowden on the City left, creating space in the area for another accurate cross to find an unmarked Taylor who slotted past a stranded Davies from six yards out.

As City looked to repair the damage a quick Niven free kick found Bloomfield on the edge of the box. The striker fired low at Curling who again forced the ball behind.

With City fans’ attention turning anxiously to half time scores at Folkestone and Tiverton there was still time for the Hawks to score yet again. This time coming forward down their left Taylor, receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the box, on this occasion turned provider. His deft flick into the path of Brett Poate allowed the former Southampton Town left back to advance past static City defenders and fire across Martin Davies into the bottom right hand corner of the net to make the score 4-1 to the visitors by the interval.

Gary Roberts response was to make a double half time substitution, Matt Clements and Jack Wignall replacing Kevin Wilkin and Tim Wooding respectively. There was no immediate change to the pattern of the game. Vowden again rose highest to get his head to a Niven free kick but his effort flew narrowly wide. Minutes later City did carve out a chance to reduce the arrears. Good work by Rob Nightingale played in Matt Clements on the right but the Lilywhites’ winger fired wide when well placed.

As Havant, with three more league games still to play, attempted to take the pace out of the game Lewis Fenemore replaced Paul Wood. With City pressing forward Havant’s patient possession football was bound to carve out further chances. James Ford swung in a right wing cross for James Taylor who flashed a header narrowly wide of the target. On 63 minutes however another cross into the box, this time from the left, proved more productive. Brett Poate floated the ball in from the left finding Haughton who rose to power a header to the left of Martin Davies who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out of the net.

This prompted Gary Roberts to make his final change introducing Richard Skelly for Stuart Niven who appeared to have taken a knock. Moments later City doubled their tally for the afternoon. Jack Wignall played the ball in from the right and as Masson hesitated Robbie Simpson nipped in to nod the ball wide of Curling and follow up to slide a shot into an unguarded net.

Moments after Brett Poate made way for Chris Ferrett, City came within inches of reducing the deficit to two goals. Wignall played the ball into Simpson on the edge of the area. Showing great strength and determination City’s teenage striker held off two challenges before squaring for Danny Bloomfield six yards out. City’s top scorer hit a goal bound effort only to see a deflection divert the ball narrowly wide of the post and behind for a corner.