Tuesday 20 August 2002 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm Dr Martens Premier Division

With Adrian Foster suspended and Mike Trought failing to recover from the groin injury he suffered against Ilkeston City were forced into making two changes to Saturday's line-up - Dean Birkby and Gary Kemp respectively taking their places. The visitors started strongly and could have been a goal to the good after just two minutes. Wood latching onto a Taylor pass before firing a shot that was well held by Mark Bryant. A series of corners for Havant also saw City's defence tested. Daish sent a header over from one before Hambley did the same from almost under the bar. City's only response during this opening period was a tame Iain Harvey shot, as they too often gave possession back to the Hampshire side. However, this poor start was forgotten on 28 minutes when they were gifted the lead. Ferrett's attempted back pass never looked like reaching Kerr leaving Jamie Gosling with only him to beat. And he made it look simple, curling a right foot shot past the exposed keeper. This brought City to life and Gary Thorne's 40th minute header almost doubled their lead - Ferrett redeeming himself somewhat by clearing the effort off the line. Bryant was forced into pushing Wood's shot over the bar as half-time approached but as the game went into stoppage time he was finally beaten. A long hopeful punt forward by Hall should have been dealt with by Thorne but he allowed Haughton to bring the ball down. He then turned the City captain before firing a low shot into the net.

Understandably the visitors came out after the break boosted by the goal and for a period City were again pressed back. Another series of corners almost ended with Minturn putting though his own net, before Bryant had to quickly race off his line to deny Wood. Howe then forced another fine save from City's shot-stopper after he ran clear from Taylor's neat pass. During this spell City's most likely attacking outlet had been via Bennett and Gosling, the latter setting up Harvey for a shot that Kerr turned behind for a corner. As the game entered it's final 20 minutes City began to gain the upper hand. Time and time Havant were forced into using illegal means to stop Bennett and Gosling. To City's increasing fustration the referee took no action against the Hawks, so they not surprisingly continued to do it. Despite this City did manage to create chances. Kerr produced an excellent stop to deny Eaton, sub Cleverley sent a fierce shot into the side netting and Bennett fired inches wide after Cleverley's cross had come back off the bar. Kerr then kicked away another Bennett shot. With three minutes to go it finally appeared the pressure had paid off when Bennett got ahead of Hall from Gosling's pass only to be hauled to the ground a yard into the box. The referee immediately blew but to the astonishment of everyone in the ground awarded an indirect free-kick outside the area. Gosling's shot was blocked and although there was still time for Harvey to bring another excellent stop from Kerr this inexplicable piece of refereeing signalled the end to City's hopes of deservedly grabbing their opening win of the season.