Gary Johnson’s side take a break from league action this Saturday when Havant & Waterlooville come to town, with a place in the FA Cup First Round Proper at stake.
Who’s the boss?
Paul Doswell took charge of the Hawks in April 2019 on a three-year deal following their relegation from the National League.
Doswell has also been at the helm at Eastleigh, but it is his eleven-year stint at Sutton United is what he is renowned for. He guided the side to promotion to the National League in 2016 with the U’s finishing 6 points clear at the top.
The following season saw Sutton retain their league place, but it was the F.A Cup run of that season that put Doswell and Sutton in people’s minds.
The cup run saw them knock out league opponents AFC Wimbledon before causing cup upset for Championship side Leeds United at Gander Green Lane. The Leeds result earned Sutton a fifth-round home tie against Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side. Despite a gallant effort Sutton succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in front of the T.V cameras.
Player to Watch
Jake McCarthy has played every minute of the Hawks season so far, during which he has scored four goals across all competitions, including a brace in the sides Second Qualifying Round away at Beaconsfield Town where the Hawks won 5-3. McCarthy continued his goalscoring antics in the following round where he scored the opening goal at Westleigh Park in Havant’s 3-2 victory against Billericay Town.
Jake progressed through the youth ranks at AFC Bournemouth before joining Weymouth where he was part of the side that were promoted through the play-offs into the National League. McCarthy scored 7 goals in 37 games during that promotion season, a feat he repeated in the Terra’s first season back in the National League scoring 7 in 40 matches.
Played for both
Joe Oastler joined United on loan in the 2010/11 season before signing permanently in the summer of 2011.
Oastler remained at Torquay for two seasons between 2011-2013 where he went on to make 113 league appearances and scored one goal in United’s 2-0 victory away at York City in the 2012/13 season.
Joe has also had spells at Bognor Regis Town, QPR, Salisbury City, Aldershot Town, Gosport Borough and Oxford City before signing on at Westleigh Park in May 2021.
Havant & Waterlooville’s Emirates FA Cup run so far
Torquay United have never played Havant & Waterlooville until this weekend and so instead of the usual previous encounter, we will look at their cup run so far…
- Second Round Qualifying – Beaconsfield Town 3-5 Havant & Waterlooville
In an entertaining game the Hawks got themselves into a two goal lead thanks to a brace from Jake McCarthy. Beaconsfield pulled a goal back, before Alex Wall restored the two goal cushion before half time.
The second half provided another goal for Alex Wall but Beaconsfield yet again pulled another goal back. Havant got their fifth goal courtesy of James Roberts.
Beaconsfield weren’t finished and scored a third late on, but the Hawks held on to seal their place in the next round.
- Third Round Qualifying – Havant & Waterlooville 3-2 Billericay Town
Another entertaining cup game for the Hawks was surprisingly goalless at half time, with Havant creating some good opportunities but being unable to convert any of them.
However, the second half saw Havant race into a 3 goal lead inside 19 second half minutes. Jake McCarthy grabbed the first goal before James Roberts added a second on the hour mark. A third followed soon after when substitute Tommy Wright added to the score for Havant.
Two goals late on for Billericay made it a nervy ending to the game for the Hawks, but they saw the game out to progress into the next round at Plainmoor on Saturday.
Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased online here, or alternatively supporters wishing to buy tickets on the day can do so from the Ticket Office between 12pm-2:45pm. Please note that no tickets will be available after 2:45pm.