HAVING A SPLASH!
Havant seal dramatic promotion to the National League
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE clinched promotion to the National League for the first time in their history with an 89th-minute winner on a dramatic final day of the season.
Jason Prior’s last-gasp strike handed the Hawks the National League South title on goal difference with a 3-2 victory over a battling Concord Rangers, as closest rivals Dartford played their part by beating Bognor Regis Town 2-1 at Nyewood Lane.
Meanwhile, champions Macclesfield Town bid farewell to Non-League with a 2-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge before lifting the National League trophy, while Woking suffered relegation for the first time in six seasons, losing 2-1 at home to Dover.
Elsewhere, Carshalton Athletic became Bostik South champions and in the North, Potters Bar Town gained promotion after winning a thrilling race for second spot.
TALK about bouncing back in style! Jason Prior smashed in a dramatic late winner to crown Havant & Waterlooville champions of National League South.
Just two years ago there was total despair on the final day as the Hawks slipped to relegation and tumbled down to Step 3. What followed is a tale of redemption and total joy. Isthmian Premier winners at the first attempt, Lee Bradbury – the manager the club stuck by – and his men have secured a second successive promotion to book a seat at Non-League’s top table for the first time in their history.
In the end, just three goals separated Bradbury’s side and Dartford in a photo finish.
Neck-and-neck all the way to the tape, the pendulum swung Havant’s way in midweek when they hammered East Thurrock 6-1. Boy did they make it interesting. At halftime they were in the box seat, two goals to the good through Theo Lewis and Matt Tubbs.
But Concord Rangers, in boss Adam Flanagan’s last game in charge, rallied to level with ten minutes left.
Dartford, just 18 miles along the road at Bognor Regis Town, were leading so Bradbury's boys needed something special. It came on 89 minutes through Prior, who has rebuilt his career after a devastating double leg break, steering into the bottom corner.
“The character of the lads is brilliant – I can’t thank the boys enough for what they’ve done for us, Bradbury said.
“It’s easy to say, but the best thing that happened to me and this football club was going down. It makes you determined to never let it happen again.
“The chairman (Derek Pope) has been here 40 years, trying to get the club to the level we’re going to now. He’s been here longer than any of my players have been alive. They’ve put their names in history. To win two titles in a row is a hell of an achievement.”
Nerves were eased inside nine minutes when midfielder Lewis arrived bang on cue to tap in from point-blank range.
Havant looked good, the experience of Wes Fogden and Brian Stock controlling the midfield – and on 26 minutes the lead was doubled.
Tubbs has been on the scoresheet a lot of times in a goal-laden career at places like Salisbury City, Crawley and AFC Wimbledon. He can’t have had many easier than this one, though. Bradley Tarbuck’s fizzed low cross to the far post was on a plate for him to nudge over the line with his knees.
But anyone who thought Concord would roll over doesn’t know about the spirit ingrained in the Beachboys that has seen them climb the Pyramid from the Essex Senior League to becoming an established National League South club.
Andy Freeman tucked into the roof of the net on 52 minutes and, while news filtered through that Dartford were ahead, there was a sharp intake of breath as Ben Greenhalgh’s free-kick slid wide.
You could hear a pin drop when Steve Cawley’s shot on the turn hit the unfortunate Jordan Rose and diverted past his own keeper on 80 minutes.
Dartford were champions as it stood, but there was a feeling one last chance would come.
When Lewis cushioned into the path of Prior, the striker opened up his body and guided a low shot past Louis Wells’s outstretched hand for glory.
“I thought it was slipping away from us,” Bradbury said. “We just had to go for it and thankfully we came out the right side.
“I’ve got to congratulate Dartford, they’ve been phenomenal. I texted (Darts boss) Tony Burman last night to say whatever happened both teams have been brilliant. They’ll be gutted but they deserve to go up too. We’ve managed to hang on to their coattails and won when we’ve needed to.
“I know this group of players have got what it takes when the pressure is on and they thrive in front of big crowds.”