A controversial short corner with three minutes remaining saw runaway league leaders Havant 2’s, equalise and spare their blushes against relegation threatened Aldershot & Farnham.

Havant had dropped just two points all season and had an eight-point cushion at the summit of South Central Division One South. Quickly into their stride, a long aerial ball exposed the A&F backline who conceded a penalty corner. The corner by Jonathon Pickett took an unfortunate deflection past a helpless Mark Edgley to give Havant a first minute lead and a sense of doom for the home side.

A&F reacted well. A quickly taken free fit draw a short corner, with Max Long finding Ian Metcalfe on the right post to restore parity.
With the game being played at a high tempo A&F won another corner. This time James Huggins drag towards the bottom left corner went in via Metcalfe’s stick.

Havant came roaring back with Nathan Royle firing in from a tight angle on the left of the circle.

The excitement continued. Good work by Aaron Buchanan and Max Long in the middle of the pitch sent A&F racing clear with a 4 on 1. Charlie Dews attempt looped into the air but debutant Charlie Johnson was on hand to smash in overhead into the empty goal.

Johnson joined on transfer deadline day from Old Georgians to join his younger brother Harry in the A&F team. Playing in a central midfield area Charlie covered a lot of ground and brought real energy and skill to the team. Recent graduate Jamie Findlayson who was with the club before heading off for University also came with Charlie from OG’s last week and he had a strong game in defence.

A 3-2 lead at half-time for A&F who were playing exceptionally well, but Havant increased the pressure on them in the second half. Mark Edgley twice made excellent double saves, whilst Huggins was having a good solid game in wide defensive areas and distributed the ball out well.

A&F’s chances were limited but they were really putting a shift in and held a good solid shape. In the dying minutes, Havant were awarded a short corner when Stu Morhall seemed to have diverted a ball into the forwards foot, but the decision was given against him and Pickett flicked inside the right upright to make it 3-3.

Still a very good point who edge up to ninth in the twelve team league, with the bottom two going down.