Late goals from Robbie Simpson and Dave Sadler helped City to a league double over the Hawks as the first Conference South fixture at Milton Road for two months ended with both sides reduced to ten men.

For the Lilywhites, who bounced back from last weekend’s FA Cup disappointment with a hard-earned win at Hornchurch in midweek thanks to Dave Sadler’s penalty, Robbie Simpson replaced Jon Stevenson in an otherwise unchanged side.

The Hawks, who belied their lowly league position with a 5-1 drubbing of high-flying Basingstoke last time out were without one of those goalscorers Gavin Holligan whose starting place went to another, David Town the player who replaced the former Wycombe striker after an hour on Monday.

City crowd out Havant's Tom Jordan

Neither side started like teams in form as the game struggled to settle into any kind of a pattern in the opening stages. However, the first significant goalmouth incident would have resulted in an opener for the visitors were it not for an excellent Duncan Roberts stop. With City on the back foot Matt Langston’s attempt at a clearing header fell kindly for David Town whose opportunist strike seemed goal bound until Roberts dropped superbly to his right to block the shot.

There were more than twenty minutes on the clock before City carved out their first opening. Richard Scott and Robbie Simpson combined to create a chance for Dave Sadler with some neat interplay on the edge of the Havant box. Simpson’s threaded pass to his strike partner was perfectly weighted onto Sadler’s left foot but the Lilywhites’ leading scorer elected to transfer the ball to his right rather than shoot first time and he was crowded out.

Chances were still very much at a premium when Shaun Wilkinson muscled Glen Fuff off the ball presenting Dean Holdsworth with the chance to lob Roberts but the experienced striker’s precise effort landed on the roof of the net.

With Simpson’s tireless running looking like City’s best chance of forcing a breakthrough the teenage striker raced onto Lee Summerscales’ lofted pass but was denied by a Jason Chewings challenge.

Michael Gordon posed a constant threat on the Havant right and with half an hour gone his whipped cross from deep forced Glen Fuff into a smart clearing header as Holdsworth loomed dangerously.

Wilkinson then became the first player of the afternoon to be cautioned for a poor challenge on Simpson, whilst the game was held up Havant were forced into a change as left back Chewings, injured in an earlier incident, was replaced by Neil Sharp.

Robbie Simpson looks to rob Jason Chewins

A snap-shot from Wilkinson then flew narrowly wide as he was played in by Town’s lay off and at the other end Sharp denied Simpson as he looked to profit from Richard Scott’s through ball but neither ‘keeper was troubled for the remainder of the half until Simpson’s angled header from Dale Binns’ cross tested Gareth Howells’ concentration.

Stung into action by Gary Roberts half-time team talk City stepped up a gear after the interval and had won a corner inside a minute, Matt Langston flashing a header across the face of goal from Richard Scott’s flag kick.

Good work by Carl Williams then won City another corner, which was partially cleared to Binns who fired into the six yard box, the ball was beaten clear and worked back to the right where Williams found Sadler with a measured cross but although the former Hinckley hit-man got up ahead of Tom Jordan, Howells hung on to his flicked header.

With the game an hour old City were again indebted to their ‘keeper as he bettered his first half effort with an outstanding stop, Robbie Pethick made good ground down the right hand side and rifled in a driven centre which Holdsworth met superbly only for Roberts to throw himself into the path of the ball and pull off an excellent reflex save, good work from Craig Pope finally clearing the danger.

City’s cultured right back’s next contribution to proceedings proved far more inflammatory however. As he moved forward down the wing he was caught late by Wilkinson right in front of the Havant bench, Pope reacted and within moments every outfield player became involved. In the aftermath referee Mr Miller showed Craig Pope a straight red and Shaun Wilkinson a second yellow, followed by a red. The first time a City player has been dismissed this season, and on Pope’s current form, a player who will be sorely missed from Gary Roberts’ undermanned squad during his suspension.

The game was there to be won by both sides at this stage and another quality run and cross by Gordon called on Fuff to be at his defensive best to deny Holdsworth.

With fifteen minutes to go City snatched a priceless opening goal. There appeared little danger when the Lilywhites were awarded a free-kick in the centre circle, but while Havant switched-off Richard Scott hit an early place kick into the feet of Simpson who took one touch to bring the ball under control before coolly sliding his shot under Howells from just inside the box.

Glen Fuff keeps a tight reign on Dean Holdsworth

In an attempt to consolidate the midfield in the wake of the goal (as City were now playing three across the back following Pope’s departure) Alex Fiddes replaced Rob Miller. Conversely, visiting boss Ian Baird made the two remaining changes available to him in an attempt to salvage the game, James Taylor and Dean Blake replacing David Town and Brett Poate.

It was Gary Roberts change that proved to be the more astute however as within a couple of minutes of his introduction Fiddes was instrumental in the move that led to a second goal which sealed victory for the home side. Picking the ball up in centre field the former Redbridge midfielder linked up with Richard Scott whose slide rule pass sent Dave Sadler racing through the inside left channel and clear of the trailing defenders. As Howells advanced from his line Sadler waited for the former Tottenham ‘keeper to commit himself before dispatching the ball into the far corner of the net. City had effectively killed the game stone dead in the space of six minutes.

Havant continued to push forward and Gordon switched wings to good effect, setting up Jamie Campbell whose looping cross was dipping under the bar until Roberts intervened. The giant custodian rounding-off an inspired afternoon by palming away Jordan’s header from Dean Blake’ resultant place kick.

There was still time for Robbie Simpson to take a well earned breather allowing Jon Stevenson a brief run out before James Taylor’s lay off set up Dean Blake who dragged his shot disappointingly wide from the edge of the area to sum up a miserable afternoon for the Hampshire side.

City will now be looking forward to Tuesday night’s visit of Lewes as they hope to capitalise on their games in hand ahead of next Saturday’s trip to table-topping Grays.