A brave fight-back by 10-man City proved too little too late as defensive errors in the opening 45 minutes cost them a second home defeat in the space of a week.

An unchanged Lilywhites team made a bright start to a game which opened in a manner that suggested the Milton Road faithful would be treated to a more entertaining encounter than the match against Welling on Tuesday.

With only four minutes on the clock Jamie Godbold exchanged passes with Loius Riddle before seeing his shot blocked by Alec Masson. For their part Havant served notice that they were prepared to take the game to the home side when Chukki Eribenne beat Lee Pluck on the edge of the box only to be robbed by James Quilter tidying up behind his skipper.

Robbie Simpson in control

With both sides still looking to develop a settled pattern the Hawks seized the initiative by grabbing an early lead. A free kick was awarded against Leon Bell on the left hand edge of the centre circle just inside City territory. Brett Poate floated a long raking ball across the box towards the far post. The Lilywhites back-line seemed to assume that the kick was over-hit but Alec Masson showed no such hesitancy as he drifted away from Robbie Simpson before arriving late to smash a drive into the roof of the net beyond a helpless Martin Davies.

Within a minute City were level. Craig Pope took a throw in on the right hand side and received the ball back from Rob Miller, getting tight to the touch line the former Barnet right-back looked up and floated a perfect cross onto the forehead of an inrushing Danny Bloomfield, who, from six yards out powered a header over a despairing Gareth Howells.

Visibly boosted by this strike Bloomfield was almost instrumental in giving City the lead on 12 minutes. Good build-up play down the right involving Pluck, Godbold and Miller saw the ball worked in low to Bloomfield with his back to goal. Showing great awareness the former Bournemouth striker created a yard of space before squaring to an unmarked Louis Riddle who had made a blind side run at the far post, but Aaron Skelton did just enough to force the City winger to fire high of the target. With City continuing to press, Simpson got his head to a Lee Pluck free kick and fed Riddle who again fired wide of the target.

Having come back well from conceding an early strike City handed the initiative back to the Hawks by leaking another goal as a result of an unforced error. A routine looking cross-field pass from Brett Poate appeared to have been under-hit into the path of Shane Wardley but unfortunately for City’s usually faultless left-back the ball slid off the greasy surface and under his boot into the path of David Town advancing down the right wing. The former Boston United striker, clear on goal, carried the ball to the edge of the box and drew Martin Davies before firing coolly past the Lilywhites ‘keeper to restore the visitors lead.

There was to be no immediate response this time as City seemed a little deflated. Their frustration borne out by Bell’s challenge on Town which earned the midfielder a yellow card. As City tried to claw their way back into the game a short corner from the left was only partially cleared to Bell who lofted the ball back over the Havant defence and into the path of Rob Miller who fired low to Howells’ right forcing the Hawks’ stopper to turn the ball behind for a corner. Lee Pluck rose highest to meet Rob Miller’s resultant place kick but headed wide.

With 35 minutes gone Havant delivered the killer blow. Neat build up play in midfield saw Neil Champion slide a ground pass inside Shane Wardley and into the path of David Town who fired first time across Martin Davies. The City ‘keeper parried the ball across the face of the goal where a grateful Dean Blake was on hand to convert at the far post.

Louis Riddle heads goalwards

To their credit City did all they could to force their way back into the game before the interval. A spell of decent possession was broken up by Town whose heavy challenge on Rob Miller was punished with a yellow card. As City sustained the pressure James Quilter played a lofted ball into the edge of the area where Danny Bloomfield, showing good close control, played a one-two with Robbie Simpson before firing low across goal where Howells was down well to save but the shot was too hot to hold, however, frustratingly for City, the loose ball fell to Skelton who cleared the danger. Immediately play switched to the other end where Eribenne, wide on the left moved menancingly into the box only to be floored by a James Quilter tackle which had the Milton Road faithful looking anxiously across to Mr Peck to see if he would point to the penalty spot. He waved play on giving City one final chance to reduce the arrears before half time. Riddle ran at Alec Masson forcing a left wing corner. Howells dropped Rob Miller’s place kick under pressure from Lee Pluck, the ball falling to Jamie Godbold whose shot was deflected wide and that was the last action of the opening period.

Not surprisingly Havant tried to take the heat out the game in the opening stages of the second half, successfully stifling City who despite dominating possession were unable to open up the visitors’ rearguard. On the hour mark the Lilywhites come back attempt was dealt a massive blow. Quilter fouled James Taylor in aerial duel, there was an exchange between the two as the Hawks’ striker went down which saw Quilter kick out, Mr Beck deeming the challenge serious enough to brandish a straight red card. This resulted in the immediate withdrawal of Shane Wardley who was replaced by Lee Chaffey. That substitution was soon followed by a double swap as Gary Roberts looked to change things around with more than 25 minutes remaining, Mark Paul and Rob Nightingale coming on at the expense of Robbie Simpson and Jamie Godbold respectively.

Despite being a player short City produced a storming final 20 minutes with all three new arrivals proving influential. Chaffey, looking strong and marshalling the dangerous Eribenne to good effect, played a good long ball into the Havant box which almost picked out Rob Nightingale who had a made a well timed run into the danger zone.

Then Mark Paul, whose hold-up play changed the emphasis of the Lilywhites’ attack steered a neat flick into the path of Danny Bloomfield who in turn ran strongly at Aaron Skelton eventually poking the ball past Howells only to see it roll agonisingly onto the foot of the post.

There then followed a series of incidents which broke up City’s momentum. Firstly James Taylor went down with a head injury which required lengthy treatment from City’s physio Peter Corder. As soon as play resumed Eribenne was carded for a foul on Lee Pluck, probably more as a result of several similar offences committed during the course of the half.

Visiting keeper Gareth Howells grabs the ball from James Quilter

As Havant looked to run down the clock they made two changes in the dying minutes, Skelton and Blake making way for Daniel Turner and Lewis Fennemore respectively but there was still time for the Lilywhites to give them a late scare. A penetrating angled through ball from Chaffey forced Turner to concede a corner with Rob Nightingale in close attendance. Nightingale’s well delivered set piece was only partially cleared and Lee Pluck returned the ball into the danger area where Danny Bloomfield rose to get the slightest of touches and deflect a deft header beyond Howells.

With the ninety minutes almost up David Town had the chance to make the game safe but fired narrowly wide of Martin Davies’ near post when well placed.

After exercising such control in the early stages Havant were now hanging on, Louis Riddle ran menacingly towards the left hand edge of the box before being felled by Fennemore, a challenge which earned the youngster a yellow card, at the same time coming within a whisker of conceding a penalty.

There was still time for Craig Pope to collect a caution for a foul on Eribenne before City had one last chance to level. After Miller was fouled wide on the left (he bravely returned to the field although obviously struggling) Rob Nightingale delivered a quality ball into the far post forcing Masson to head behind for a corner. Louis Riddle swang the ball in from the right, Lee Pluck making a good clean contact but Gareth Howells was well placed to gather as City’s final chance to level disappeared, Mr Beck bringing proceedings to a close moments later.

Two home defeats in the space of a week is hard to take at this stage of the season but there were still a number of positives to be drawn from the way City fought their way back into a game that looked out of sight before half-time.

Against a lesser side City may not have been punished so harshly for a couple of unforced errors early in the game. That aside the overall performance showed some encouraging signs. The Milton Road crowd got their first chance to take a proper look at Martin Paul and Lee Chaffey, both of whom made impressive contributions, coupled with that Leon Bell put in an effective display in the middle of the park. Most pleasing though was the return to goal scoring form of Danny Bloomfield who looked to be back to something like his best.

There is a lot of hard work to do and some daunting fixtures coming up but there is still every indication that City are moving in the right direction despite the set backs of the last few days.