City’s excellent start to the season continued on Saturday at a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites, Havant’s Westleigh Park, where they have now returned with maximum points from their last three visits.

City’s line-up showed only two changes from that which had beaten Margate on bank holiday monday. Duncan Roberts return from injury saw him replace Alan Calton, while Sam Swonnell was dropped, Dale Binns getting his first start on the left wing, Carl Williams returning to a more customary role on the right hand side of midfield.

The home side were quickly into their stride, opening up the City defence with only three minutes on the clock. Dean Blake’s cross to the far side of the penalty area was met with a deft touch from Dean Holdsworth into the path of David Town as he raced into the area, however the pass was a fraction too strong and Roberts was able to gather.

Jon Stevenson causing problems in the area

City weren’t slow in making their mark and showing what a danger the Binns/Stevenson partnership was likely to pose as two minutes later Binns left Alec Masson trailing in his wake as he nipped up the left flank, Jason Chewins failed to cut out his low cross at the near-post and Jon Stevenson slid in to poke the ball goalwards but home keeper Gareth Howells was equal to it.

Sky TV were touring the ground interviewing fans before the game asking for their views on former Premiership striker Holdsworth as part of a report they were putting together. They stayed to catch the man in action and didn’t have long to wait long as the former Bolton hitman forced Roberts in to a sharp save in the 6th minute. The City stopper blocking the strikers diving header, the ball running loose but City eventually clearing their lines.

Instantly City switched the play to the other end where Williams worked a crossing opportunity only to see his ball into the area skim Dave Sadler’s head at the near-post and fly away to safety on the left hand side.

Sadler was involved again soon after. A Havant attack broke down and Richard Scott’s long upfield pass picked out the City striker, faced with a rapidly back-pedalling home defence he quickly made up his mind to shoot and forced Howells to turn the ball over the bar, the resulting corner however came to nothing with Matt langston failing to find the target.

Binns was displaying the form that had made him a firm favourite at his former club and he was enjoying his battle with Masson. After 20 minutes the City winger showed trickery to beat the defender and deliver a tricky cross that Howells was fully extended to claim. Sixty seconds on and Masson’s lunging tackle was easily evaded by Binns, this time he had a go at goal, his low shot lacked any real power but still forced Howells into a save.

A breakdown in communications for the home side lead to the former Hendon man having another opportunity to threaten minutes later. Blake thinking a team-mate was behind him played the ball back down the left hand channel straight to a waiting Binns, his cross into the box caused all manner of panic as Sadler slid in, only failing to get a touch by millimetres.

Rob Miller in danger of losing his shirt

In the 26th minute Havant nearly took advantage of a poor refereeing decision. Stevenson was bundled to the ground in the centre circle as he sheilded the ball for what looked a clear free-kick. Nothing was given and as City’s players concentration lapsed momentarily, Luke Byles found space to try his luck from distance, the ball taking a wicked deflection off Langston and flying just off target. A Roberts punch repelled the resulting corner at the expense of another. Roberts again punched as Blake’s flag-kick sailed into the area but only as far as Town who unleashed a pile-driver that Roberts did brilliantly to beat away.

Just after the half hour Sadler found the ever dangerous Stevenson six yards out from the Havant goal. Closely marked, the former Leicester City striker twisted and turned, earning himself a yard of space but lost his footing as he struck his shot, the ball trickling into Howells hands.

Havant defender Neil Sharp showed strength as he surged goalwards going past two City tackles before setting up Town for a shot but his effort went straight at Roberts who held it with little trouble.

With the half-time break moments away, Havant were given a good chance to open their account when Rob Miller was harshly penalised for for a case of ball to hand on the edge of the area. As City went about organising their wall, Holdsworth was not waiting for anyone and curled a shot that looked to be heading for the back of the net but for an alert Roberts, who sailed across his goal to turn it behind.

Havant opened the second half much as they had the first, with an effort on goal in the early minutes. Neil Champions tackle saw the ball break to Blake. With plenty of space to exploit in front of him, he bombed forward and crashed a shot only a couple of feet wide of the City goal, although Roberts did not look unduly worried.

A trademark Lee Chaffey surge and shot brought a stop from Howells before City took a deserved lead. Scott’s free-kick in the centre circle was played short to Stevenson, his pass to Miller was looped up to Sadler on the edge of the area who placed a perfect header into the path of Stevenson who had continued his run. Howells raced from his line but Stevenson showed all his class to simply dink the ball over the keeper as he threw himself at the strikers feet.

Carl Williams with a ball winning challenge

Havant needed a quick response and very nearly got it two minutes later. A Chewins corner was swung into the near-post, Roberts looked favourite to claim but was impeded by Champion, the ball bounced alarmingly towards goal but fortunately Craig Pope was well stationed to hack the ball clear. From the clearance, City broke and Binns lobbed pass into the danger area found Sadler who hit a first time volley straight at Howells.

With 65 minutes gone, Town produced excellent control of a long ball deep into the City area to produce a cross that bounced unmollested across the six yard area before poor control from Champion allowed Sadler an opportunity to release Stevenson for what should have been his second of the afternoon. He outstripped Sharp and Champion, went past Howells dispairing dive with ease, but from an ever tightening angle could only find the side netting.

At this point Havant began to ring the changes, taking off Masson and bringing prolific striker James Taylor into the fray, throwing three up front. It didn’t phase City who kept compact and organised denying space and all too often forcing the home side into error.

The Hawks had to make a push and as the game entered the final ten minutes, Holdsworth, who, no doubt disappointingly for the Sky camera team, had been largely anonymous found enough space on the edge of the area to hook the ball goalwards but only found Roberts chest. Then from a free-kick, Tom Jordan headed over the bar when he should have done much better.

As Havant pushed forward, City were always likely to capatalise on the break and very nearly did as Binns forced Howells into a fine stop. With five minutes left, substitute Robbie Simpson should have put the game out of reach after fine build-up play through Williams and City’s other second half sub Paul Fewings provided him with an open goal. Williams latched onto Fewings reverse pass to roll the ball across goal to Simpson, lurking unmarked at the far post. It seemed a formality to score but somehow the City youngster scuffed the ball wide.

A minute later and City almost paid for that miss. Havant won a corner on the right, City partially cleared, Town picked up the loose ball side-stepped Glen Fuff and unleashed a fearsome shot that forced Roberts to produce a top notch save.

Injury time brought an opportunity for Simpson to quickly erase the memory of his earlier howler. Fewings long ball upfield initiated a sprint between Simpson and Sharp, the two had a coming together and both fell, Simpson quickly sprang to his feet leaving him with the task of beating Howells. This he did with great aplomb only to see his shot hit the post, however, it rolled kindly and he was left with his second open goal of the day, this time there was no escape for Havant. Game over.

All pictures courtesy of Dave Haines.