Dag & Red 1  Tony Roberts 5  Mark Smith 6  Steve Heffer 7  Mark Janney 8  Paul Terry 9  Danny Shipp 11  Paul Bruce 13  Junior 15  Steve West 17  Lee Matthews 24  Steve Potts Substitutes 3  Ashley Vickers 12  Steve Perkins 14  Danny Hill 16  Triston Chambers 18  Paul Gothard

Goals Junior Haughton Shipp Haughton Shipp   Stats 10 Goal Attempts 8 8 On Target 6 2 Off Target 2 0 Hit Woodwork 0 8 Corners 5 Cards Yellow Janney None Hill   Red None None

Havant Aaron Kerr  1 Alec Masson  2 Chris Ferrett  3 Shaun Hale  4 Gareth Hall  5 Christian Hanson  6 Paul Wood  7 Tim Hambley  8 Bobby Howe  9 James Taylor  10 Warren Haughton  11 Substitutes Shaun Gale  12 Neil Davis  14 James Ford  15 Craig Leworthy  16 Calvin Sparshatt  17

A fairly lacklustre display against the lower league but fired up Havant & Waterlooville, and it was by no means easy going as the Daggers twice let a two goal lead turn into a single goal and edgy lead, as they eased off too early and left themselves hanging on somewhat in the second half. It did not help that Smith Potts and Matthews were having very poor days, but good at least that they got these out of the way all at once whilst managing to secure the win.

The Daggers fielded the expected team as West replaced the Orient returning Fletcher, Stein again injured. This left the way clear for young Triston Chambers to have the experience of sitting on the bench for the FA Cup after he had previously made his debut in the Essex Senior Cup.

The visitors gave some early scares as a complacent looking Daggers let Hambley get into a good position to shoot wide, and then let the same man again head wide of the far post. However, they got into their stride and hit two quick goals against a very poor visiting defence who, for the first half at least, were harassed by Junior, Shipp West and Janney. This was the Daggers' lifeline as their own defence uncharacteristically crumbled. The first came when Shipp leaped to head down to West and his little pass allowed Junior to beat the static defence, round the keeper and slot it in with his left foot, adding to his impressive recent tally.

Just minutes later, the Daggers took the lead further as the ball fell to Shipp on the edge of the box and his left foot curler found the top corner if the net. Just as it looked like the Daggers could name their scoreline, Howe took on and beat Smith and Potts, before crossing to Haughton who cleverly squeezed a backheel into the net. The goals were still flowing though and Shipp made it 3-1 with a great finish. He was fed by Janney and shot across the keeper to score in off the far post.

The drama wasn't over though and Havant came right back when the Daggers failed to win a header, and then let Haughton turn to volley just inside Roberts' right hand post as he dived in vain. However, thats where the goals ended and the half was played out with much less drama than minutes previous, as the Daggers struggled to get back into their stride after again letting the pace go.

The second half was basically all Havant as the Daggers continued to struggle. There was nothing clever about the away side's play and the ineptitude of the Daggers to deal with it will surely have worried manager Hill after recent good performances. Taylor twice hit just over the Daggers' goal, but luckily for the home side, the Hawks couldn't quite find the final ball at times.

Once weathered, the Daggers could get back into the game and Bruce's corner almost snuck in at the near post, substitutde Danny Hill also having a good chance to seal it as he burst into the box and drove it just wide of the far post. Then Junior had his shot blocked, the rebound falling to Shipp, who blasted it at the defender on the line, anywhere else would have sealed his hat-trick.

For many Daggers there was a distinct lack of excitement in the second half, but the away fans were having a great time for most of it as they saw the Hawks have some very good attacks and saw their side match their hosts for much of the game. A get out of jail free card was surely used up here by the lethargic Daggers, but after recent great displays there is little to complain about as long as they are back on song for the Conference games to come.