LUCK has finally turned for Havant & Waterlooville after an ill-fated start to the campaign.
Not only have the Westleigh Park club avoided the Conference big guns in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday week (October 26), but they have landed a third successive home tie - this time against Ryman Premier outfit Billericay Town.
It was only a couple of weeks back that Hawks' managerial team of Mick Jenkins and Liam Daish received the dreaded vote of confidence from chairman Derek Pope after a dire run of early-season results in the Dr Martens Premier Division.
But the frowns have suddenly turned to smiles and, within minutes of the draw being made, an invigorated Jenkins had already had plans hatched to watch Billericay take on Heybridge Swifts in the Ryman League at New Lodge tonight.
He said: "You have to do your homework especially with £20,000 at stake for the winners.
"I watched both Harrow Borough and Evesham for the previous rounds and it's worth the club paying £20 or £30 in petrol money to get a look at the opposition.
"We could ask no more than to have another home game and I'm really pleased with that."
Billericay, 4-0 Cup conquerors of Braintree Town on Saturday, are currently sixth in the Ryman table.
Their line-up includes former Wycombe Wanderers FA Cup hero Roy Essandoh - who grabbed the Chairboys' last-minute winner at then Premiership Leicester in the quarter-final in 2000/01 - and charismatic ex-Aldershot Town and Enfield boss George Borg, who is first-team coach with the Essex side.
Jenkins admitted: "That alone makes it a difficult tie. Any team George Borg is involved with is always hard to beat."
Hawks, meanwhile, are on the trail of a new defender.
With Daish having exploratory surgery on a knee injury and Shaun Gale struggling with hamstring problems, they are short on numbers at the back.
Brett Poate has returned to the Saints Academy following a successful loan spell and Ben Price, who has come out of retirement for the last couple of games, is not available for at least a fortnight.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article