Notts County's hopes of making the Third Round of this season's FA Cup were ended at Meadow Lane this afternoon as they fell victim to Blue Square South outfit Havant & Waterlooville, who claimed a late, late 1-0 win.
In a game of few chances, Notts came closest to opening the scoring in the first period with Neil MacKenzie twice going close with long-range efforts while Lawrie Dudfield tested Scriven's reactions early in the game.
The Blue Square South outfit made life difficult for Notts throughout, with minutes to go they secured the win with a scruffy goal from substitute Tony Taggart. Hats off to the Havant players and officials, they deserved to go through and on the day Notts simply weren't good enough. Scruffy goal or not, Havant don't care as it is they and not Notts County who are in tomorrow's draw.
Lawrie Dudfield saw a late header fly just over the bar, and with that went Notts' chances of a money spinning Third Round tie - with the Havant players falling to their knees is sheer delight following five minutes of injury time.
Ian McParland made one change to the side which was beaten 2-1 at Lincoln a week ago, with Matt Somner in for Richard Butcher in midfield. Gary Silk moved out to the right-wing, allowing Somner to slot into the middle of the park alongside Neil MacKenzie.
Jason Lee was back on the bench following his broken arm for his first involvement in the team for almost two months.
Havant meanwhile were without Tom Jordan (Suspended) and Jamie Slabber (Injured), but were able to welcome Rocky Baptiste back after injury.
On a bitterly cool afternoon at Meadow Lane Havant began proceedings by kicking the game off, attacking towards the Meadow Lane End for the opening period as they aimed to pull off a second FA Cup shock of the campaign having disposed of York City in the First Round.
The visitors, as Ian McParland mentioned in his pre-match views, were right up for the game and started brightly in the first ten minutes but were unable to test Kevin Pilkington to any great lengths other than claim a few crosses. Adam Tann did however have to be well placed at the far post to head clear a Harkin cross on five minutes, with Baptiste lurking at the far post.
Notts had two chances in a minute approaching the ten-minute mark, but Dudfield had a shot on the turn saved by Scriven from just inside the six-yard box while Neil MacKenzie's long-range drive fizzed across the surface from twenty-five yards which was just wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.
Havant huffed and puffed to make life difficult for Notts, but on twenty-four minutes the Magpies created a golden chance that should have seen them take the lead - but in unfamiliar territory Matt Somner took too long to get his shot away when clean through on goal - and a Havant defender was able to make a last-gasp challenge. Silk's ball over the top found the midfielder clear looking for his first of the season, but he took too long and the Havant defender needed no second invitation to clear his lines.
The rest of the half provided very few in terms of chances, but plenty of committed play and battling qualities from both sides. Havant were clearly well up for the game and were giving little away - meaning Notts were having to be patient, with Neil MacKenzie coming close to opening the scoring with another long-range effort in first-half injury-time but Scriven got down low to turn his effort behind for a corner.
Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Havent & Waterlooville
The second period began with a double change for the visitors with Wilkinson and Taggart on for Oatway and Pacquette, and the second period began in pretty much the same vein of how the first period ended with the game again quite scrappy and lacking chances.
Ten minutes into the second period Harkin turned both Mayo and Somner inside out down the right which allowed him to advance across the box and lash in a low drive which Pilkington did well to get down to low to his left to pull off a fine reaction save, and that allowed Somner to clear the ball before the lively winger could pounce again.
It was a scrappy start to the half and on the hour Ian McParland looked to shake things up by bringing Jason Lee off the bench in place of Gary Silk - with Dudfield moving out to the right wing while Weir-Daley came on for Myles Weston moments later after suffering what looked to be a hamstring injury.
Weir-Daley fired straight at Scriven soon after coming off the bench after good play by Mayo, but in all honesty chances were few and far between with Havant sitting back and breaking up the play, doubling-up on the Magpies and making it very difficult for Notts to find any way through.
Dudfield on the volley came inches away from opening the scoring on seventy-two minutes, chesting down a Paul Mayo cross and striking the ball sweetly from eighteen yards - but a Havant defender got a nick on the ball to turn the ball over for a corner which was eventually scrambled away.
With fifteen to go the advantage was with Notts as they upped the pressure, but time-and-time again bodies were in the way blocking Notts' way to goal. Sam had a shot blocked following a corner with the Magpies appealing for handball, but their claims were waved away.
Richard Butcher replaced Neil MacKenzie for the final ten minutes, and the substitute almost made an instant impact with a low drive from just inside the box which was cleared off the line by Gregory on the far post at the expense of a corner which Jason Lee headed over the bar under heavy pressure once again. Havant didn't give Notts a second all game.
With three minutes to go the visitors won the tie by grabbing the only gola of the game. A ball over the top caught the Notts defence flat-footed and substitute Taggart ran clear through a stationary Notts defence to slide the ball home - and pull of a major giantkilling. Adam Tann was chasing back to drag the forward down who burst clear with some pace, but he was unable to stop the ball trickling over the line to send the away fans, players, bench and officials around the stands into sheer delight.
In the end, despite five minutes of added time, Notts simply couldn't break down the visitors who, like predicted, were simply not going to simply head to Meadow Lane and lie down and let Notts walk all over them. A late chance for Dudfield was the best Notts could manage, but Dudfield headed over Mayo's centre.
So after all the hope of making the Third Round, Notts have crashed out in disappointing fashion. The players walked off the pitch almost in shock, whilst the Havant players, officials and supporters were up on cloud nine and dancing, celebrating as if they had won the Cup - and who can blame them? Credit to the Blue Square South side, they deserved it.
Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville, Tann (C), Hunt, Mayo, Silk (Lee 60), Somner, MacKenzie (Butcher 79), Weston (Weir-Daley 63), Sam, Dudfield.
Subs Not Used: Sandercombe, Pearce.
Booked: Somner.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.
Havant & Waterlooville: Scriven, Gregory, Poate, Oatway (Wilkinson 46), Smith, Sharp, Harkin, Collins (C), Pacquette (Tagarrt 49), Baptiste, Potter (Gurney 90).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Warner.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Taggart (87).
Match Referee: Mr J Singh
Attendance: 3,810 (261 Havant & Waterloovile Fans)
