Hero Bristow seals win

JASON Bristow was the unlikely hero who sealed a fantastic victory over Havant at a buoyant Camrose on Tuesday night.

The Town central defender conjured up a dramatic 90th minute winner, firing home from 30-yards into the bottom right corner with an expertly-placed effort, past Havant substitute goalie Emmet Peyton's despairing dive.

It sent Blues boss Ernie Howe charging onto the pitch in unbridled glee, while the Camrose faithful lapped up the strike around the ground, cheering loudly.

They knew it was just reward for Town's application and desire in the second-half to erase the 2-2 interval tie and take all three points instead of one.

Bristow confirmed that reaction afterwards, when he said: "It's a great win, but we deserved to win because of our second-half display. We wanted to win the game more than them.

"It's a shame we conceded our first two goals at home this season, but we didn't let it get us down. We kept going and it was great to get the winner, as I should've had a penalty in the first half when I was pulled down."

On his goal, he said: "Their defence just backed off and my original thought was to whack it. But I saw the 'keeper off his line so decided to curl it. To be fair, he should've done better, but I'm not complaining."

Neither was anyone else in the Town camp.

The whole match was a great advert for non-League football and another quality performance by Howe's young side, who are third in the Nationwide South table.

This was a display that emphasised their character in coming from behind, confidence and ability to deal with an overtly physical side.

The first 45 minutes was full of end-to-end action and Town went in front after just nine minutes through live-wire striker Neville Roach.

Clearly still on a high after Saturday's brilliant brace against Newport County, Roach was on hand to sweep home Cristian Levis' low cross from the right wing.

The Argentinian had been put into space by Martin Whiddett, who won a flick-on header thanks to his battling qualities.

Roach's finish was emphatic, as was Neville Stamps' foul on Bobby Howe four minutes later inside the box, after a left-wing ball from Jamie Campbell wasn't dealt with.

Ex-Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth despatched the subsequent penalty kick past Scott Tarr, who guessed the right way, but couldn't get to it in time.

Bristow superbly covered his goalkeeper on 25 minutes.

Holdsworth beat Tarr to a ball in the right channel and lobbed it goalwards. However, Bristow cleared just as the ball was about to cross the line.

Town went behind on 34 minutes. A corner was sent deep and headed back into danger by Havant's James Taylor.

Neville Stamp, on the post, reacted with an instinctive header that looped up and out to David Town, 10-yards out at a slight angle.

The midfielder met it with a crisp volley that flew past defending bodies and bounced just before the near post and in.

But Howe's side hit back straight away with a ferocious strike from Levis.

An indirect free-kick was rolled by David Ray to Sergio Torres - both players were outstanding in central midfield - and then back to Levis, who, from 25-yards, thumped it into the roof of the net.

It flew past goalie Gareth Howells at a speed Sky TV monitors would have missed. Like he would be doing later, Howe was on the pitch and loving Levis' effort.

Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Scott Smith, David Ray, Cristian Levis, Sergio Torres, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach, Nathan Stamp. Not used: Stuart Tanfield, Rob Westall, Ricky Allaway, Mark Zawadski, Jamie McClurg.