Preview – Havant & Waterlooville (A) - Saturday 18th January
Wealdstone will look to avenge their previous defeat earlier this season to Havant & Waterlooville, as they travel to face the Hawks, currently residing in third position. The Stones will be hoping they can pull away from the chasing pack, in this high anticipated top of the table clash.
THE DETAILS
Havant & Waterlooville vs. Wealdstone
National League South
Westleigh Park, PO9 5TH
Saturday 18th January, 3:00pm kick-off
THE CONTEXT
Wealdstone will be looking to build on last week’s home victory against Welling United and re-establish their dominant form from earlier in the season, which propelled them to become league leaders. The Stones still boast a seven-point lead at the top of the National League South, but have not won away since defeating Chelmsford City in October. Havant & Waterlooville are eight-points behind the Stones, but crucially the Hawks have three games in hand. They have only lost three games all season, while they also hold a superior goal difference.
TEAM NEWS
Midfielders Jack Jebb and Michael Phillips will both be unavailable through suspension, having picked up red cards in previous matches. Wealdstone will also be without their legendary and longest serving goalkeeper Jonathan North, who left the club by mutual consent earlier this week. However, top scorer Ross Lafayette, and Welling United loanee Adam Coombes, who were unable to play against the Wings last Saturday, will both be available for selection.
FORM GUIDE
Wealdstone:
Welling United (H) 1-0 (Efete)
Billericay Town (A) 3-1 (Okimo)
Oxford City (A) 3-2 (Mendy, Coombes)
Slough Town (H) 2-1 (Efete, Lafayette)
St Albans City (H) 1-0 (Lewis)
Havant & Waterlooville:
Hemel Hempstead (A) 1-2 (Magri, Kedwell)
Maidstone (H) 1-2 (Read)
Weymouth (A) 0-1 (Walton)
Hungerford Town (A) 1-3 (Rutherford, Kedwell, Fogden)
Braintree Town (A) 3-3 (Ayunga, Taylor, Rutherford)
WHO TO WATCH FOR
Jonah Ayunga: Ayunga is Havant & Waterlooville’s top goal scorer this season, netting 12 times for the Hawks. In the Stones’ previous encounter with Havant & Waterlooville in September, Ayunga was on target for the Hawks. The talented striker has also represented Kenya, receiving his first cap in 2016.
Danny Kedwell: Kedwell is the second highest scorer for Havant & Waterlooville, having notched nine goals for the Hawks this season. The veteran striker has been a prolific goal scorer throughout his career, and also possesses a fantastic penalty conversion record. Kedwell will bring a strong physical presence, as well as league experience, having previously competed in League One and League Two.
LAST TIME OUT
Wealdstone dominated the opening period during their last encounter with Havant & Waterlooville earlier this season, as talisman Ross Lafayette gave the Stones a promising start with an early goal. However, goals from Ayunga, Adam Drury, Alfie Rutherford, and Kedwell sealed an emphatic comeback for the Hawks as they ran away with a 4-1 away victory.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played – 7
Wealdstone - 2
Draw – 1
Havant & Waterlooville – 4
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
September 2019: Wealdstone 1-4 Havant & Waterlooville (Lafayette)
March 2018: Havant & Waterlooville 1-0 Wealdstone
August 2017: Wealdstone 0-1 Havant & Waterlooville
April 2016: Wealdstone 3-2 Havant & Waterlooville (Louis, Demetriou, Wright)
October 2015: Havant & Waterlooville 1-2 Wealdstone (Hudson-Odoi, Louis)
Preview by Nicole Cho-Yee