HAWKS SWOOP IN FOR DERBY GLORY

REUBEN AUSTIN hailed Havant & Waterlooville teammate Leon Maloney’s wonder goal as ‘a hell of a strike’ as the Hawks continued their promotion push with a 3-1 local derby success over Gosport Borough.

- Matthew Nash

Dan Wooden put the Boro ahead in front of 1,406 at Westleigh Park on 24 minutes, only for Keane Anderson to curl home an equaliser for the fifth-placed hosts just seven minutes later.

Havant continued to apply pressure after the break and Joe McNerney headed them in front nine minutes after the restart.

Gosport then had Samuel Faniyan sent off for a second booking and Havant went for the jugular with Austin then providing the assist for Maloney to wrap up a comeback victory for Shaun North’s men nine minutes from time – a thunderous effort that flew into the top corner.

“As soon as it left his foot, I knew it was in,” defender Austin said. “It was a hell of a strike. I’m pleased for him because he’s come close a few times this season and it’s not gone in.

“We showed good character to come back from 1-0 down, it didn’t feel like we panicked, we were the better side. We got out rewards in the end.”

Meanwhile, league leaders Merthyr Town continued their title charge, winning 3-1 at Hungerford Town, who had taken a half-time lead through Joseph Marquez Espada a minute before the break in Berkshire.

But the Welshmen were a different proposition in the second period and Cole Jarvis found the leveller 20 minutes from time after a red card for Hungerford’s Louis McGrory.