The opening exchanges saw Havant have what turned out to be their best spell of the game. As early as the second minute O'Rourke forced an excellent block out of Hervin, Taylor just failing to reach the rebound. Taylor then headed a Blake corner wide on 15 minutes before a sign of the home side's usual less attractive nature showed through - Wilkinson picking up the first of five booking for them after a late challenge on Thomas. City then received another blow in the 22nd minutes when captain Colin Towler was forced from the action with a foot injury. What attacking threat City managed to produce was too often snuffed out by the home sides experienced back line and after Taylor had seen another two good openings go begging they took the lead. 38 minutes had gone by when O'Rourke outpaced Thomas down the left flank. With Taylor and Davis in the middle he lifted a cross into the box, but rather than find a teammate his centre looped over Hervin and into the net via the far post. City repsonded well to this stroke of bad luck and Hopkins was unfortunate when he was twice stopped by last-gasp tackles and then directed a header narrowly over in the final minute of the half.

The second period began with Havant lucky to keep eleven men on the field. A crude two-footed lunge on Thorne by Connolly left the defender hobbling for the remainder of the game but the Ville substitute escaped with just a booking, joining his manager Daish in the referees notebook. Watts and Powell both did well to clear dangerous opportunities from almost on the City goalline soon after this but City were finally beginning to look like they were capable of finding a way back into the game. A strong run by Foster ended with Lee hauling him to the ground - again the referee opted for yellow when red would not have been harsh - only for Powell to lift the free-kick high over the bar. A 72nd minute goalmouth scramble saw Powell and Foster just fail to find a finishing touch. However, three minutes later Havant claimed a vital second goal. City unnecessarily lost position in midfield allowing Wilkinson to run unchallenged into the area and his cross was turned past Hervin by Thomas as he desperately tried to clear the cross. Ironically what followed was City's best period of the match as first Badman just missed a Hopkins cross, then Hopkins himself and Keen saw efforts blocked by the Havant defence. Any hope of an unlikely comback though disappeared on 86 minutes when another City attack broke down and O'Rourke's cross was calmly placed past Hervin by Barnett. This third goal more than flattered the hosts but was an example of how to punish a side when they give you the chance.