Havant & Waterlooville FC V Chelmsford City FC, National League South, Westleigh Park, Saturday 3rd February 2024, 3pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City hope to continue their unbeaten league start to 2024 when they travel to the South Coast this weekend, to face Havant & Waterlooville.
The Clarets will arrive at Westleigh Park looking to add to the 30 points they’ve won away from home this season, which is currently the best away record in the National League South.
City’s good start to the year combined with the club’s impressive away form means Simpson’s men sit 3rd in the National League South table heading into the club’s 30th league game of the season.
On the other hand, Havant & Waterlooville, currently being led by interim co-managers Cliff De Gordon, Ross Betteridge, and Richard Pope, arrive into Saturday’s game bottom of the league table following a 1-0 away defeat to Chippenham last time out.
Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of this weekend’s clash…
Team & match stats:
· Havant & Waterlooville are yet to have climbed out of the relegation places this season and currently sit bottom of the National League South following a recent three-game winless streak & a seven-match run without a clean sheet.
· Despite their side’s poor form, Hawks fans may take some encouragement from their head-to-head record in games against the Clarets. Havant are unbeaten in their last nine league matches against Chelmsford City (W6, D3).
· This means City’s last National League South win against the Hawks came in April 2016, when the Clarets won 1-0 at Westleigh Park, thanks to Reece Prestige’s goal.
· A 92nd minute winner from then-player Robbie Simpson earned City a 2-1 win against Havant back in December 2019, although this victory was in the FA Trophy.
Opposition:
Havant & Waterlooville will continue their quest for National League South survival this weekend, as Cliff De Gordon’s side desperately look to begin a strong run of form to kickstart a great escape from relegation.
De Gordon (alongside interim co-managers Ross Betteridge and Richard Pope) is the third man to have managed the Hawks this season, with the managerial changes at Westleigh Park signifying the turbulent season Havant fans have endured so far.
Former player Jamie Collins was relieved of his managerial duties by the Havant board in early September following his side’s disappointing start to the new season. The Hawks’ board moved quickly to replace Collins by drafting in former Dartford and Welling boss Steve King. However, a rotten run of form under King, which saw the Hawks go without a win during King’s 12 league games as Havant boss, led to him also being relieved of his managerial duties at the beginning of December.
The decision to replace King with interim co-managers De Gordon, Betteridge, and Pope, paid off at first, after the trio marked their 7th game in charge with their 5th win as managers, following a 2-1 win over Maidstone last month. Since then however, a winless run of three games has followed, leaving the Hawks joint-bottom of the league table and 10 points adrift from safety.
Havant’s survival bid took a further hit last month when top goalscorer Muhammadu Faal’s departure to Maidstone United was officially confirmed. Faal was the Hawks’ Player of the Season during 22-23 and despite his side’s woes this season, continued to impress after scoring 7 goals from 15 league starts in a Hawks shirt.
Following this departure, De Gordon & Co will hope forward Ryan Seager can fill the void Faal leaves. Seager arrived at Westleigh Park for an undisclosed fee from Dorking Wanderers back in November, and has scored four goals in his last five appearances. The 27-year-old has found the back of the net four times in his two previous league appearances against the Clarets, scoring a brace in both of former club Hungerford’s wins over City in 21-22.
Team News:
Forward Mo Bettamer departed Melbourne Community Stadium earlier this week, having been recalled from his loan in Essex by parent club Hayes & Yeading. Midfielder Louis Dunne will also continue to not be available for selection, after having his loan spell at Hayes & Yeading United extended.
Getting there:
Supporters travelling by car to this weekend’s game should know that the journey from Melbourne Community Stadium to Westleigh Park takes around 2 hours 30 minutes.
At the time of writing, there are still spaces left on the Chelmsford City Supporters Club coach. The coach departs Melbourne Park at 11:00am on Saturday, and will then leave the County Hotel at 11:15am.
Havant station is around a 20-minute walk away from Westleigh Park and is well-connected to London Victoria station via Southern Railway services.
Ticketing information:
Tickets for Saturday’s match can be purchased online via Havant’s website or at the turnstiles, using cash or card. Ticket prices are as follows:
· Adult – £15
· Concession – £10
· Student – £10
· U16s: Free when accompanied by a paying adult
How to follow the game:
Radio Clarets will be providing live audio commentary of proceedings in Hampshire.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s game, and live updates of proceedings at Westleigh Park by following the club’s X page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
Words by Jake Dixon.
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