JASON ON THE SPOT AS HAWKS CLOSE GAP
HAVANT reopened the title race when Jason Prior kept his cool from the penalty spot to complete a come-frombehind victory and knock Dulwich out of the play-off spots.
Havant are now just a point behind Bognor with four games left.
And a delighted Hawks boss Lee Bradbury told The NLP: “I was proud of the lads today. They showed guts, determination and a willingness to not give up.
“We need to concentrate on ourselves now as our fate is back in our own hands.
“Things have been very emotional in recent weeks. We managed to get ourselves to the top of the league then last week fell four points behind Bognor,.
“But today we got ourselves right back into it.”
Havant had started strongly. Prior’s cross flashed across the area with nobody applying the finishing touch.
On 20 minutes Prior’s header from the energetic Wes Fogden’s great cross was superbly saved by Hamlet keeper Preston Edwards.
Dulwich were playing some wonderful football, but could not create meaningful chances.
And at the other end, Prior headed Brian Stock’s cross wide when it seemed easier to score.
However, Hamlet hit the Hawks with a sucker punch eight minutes before the break when Ashley Carew found Ibra Sekajja who netted from the tightest of angles.
Havant’s Dan Strugnell headed wide before Hawks’ keeper Ryan Young saved Ibrahim Kargbo’s long-range shot..
The Hawks equalised on 48 minutes, Theo Lewis looping a header over Edwards into the far corner from Stock’s floated cross
Prior then brought a tremendous save from Edwards. And the influential Stock again set up Lewis but his header went wide.
The visitors’ defence, superbly marshalled by Matt Drage and Michael Chambers, was proving a tough nut to crack.
Prior had another volley saved by Edwards but the match turned when George Barker came off the Havant bench on 84 minutes.
With his first touch, Barker burst into the area and was brought down by Nathan Green.
Prior gave Edwards no chance from the resulting penalty and Havant held on for a crucial win.
Dulwich boss Gavin Rose admitted: “Havant are a dangerous team. Our second half was just not good enough, we started slowly and this cost us.
“We are a match for any team in this league, but they deserved to win as they were more aggressive than us.”