4:50pm Sunday 7th February 2010
By Steve Carley
MANNY Williams provided a lesson in finishing as his hat-trick thrust Worcester City deeper into the relegation mire.
The Hawks leading scorer netted a first-half penalty, after Gary Walker had tripped Wes Fogden, and added two more after the break at Westleigh Park.
Mark Clyde and Alfie Carter ensured City made a game of it but, having created a hatful of chances, it is not difficult to see why caretaker manager Carl Heeley was fuming at having only converted two.
By contrast, Shaun Gale’s men had just three efforts on target all afternoon and Williams buried the lot for his side’s third straight victory.
City’s situation was not helped by a defence that has looked increasingly edgy in recent matches and shipped three goals for the first time since September.
The fighting spirit shown against Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy was evident but Heeley knows his side will need more than that if they are to escape the Blue Square South trap-door.
Only goal difference separates them from third-from-bottom Lewes and it is looking like three from four for the drop as Dorchester have opened up a sizeable gap and Hampton and Richmond have games in hand.
City played well in patches and passed the ball better than for a long time but they missed Marc McGregor, just as they had done when the striker hobbled out of the Harriers match with a hamstring injury.
Craig Wilding was restored to the forward line to partner Marco Adaggio in a clear sign Heeley wants to get players back in their natural positions, while Rob Elvins was dropped to the bench in favour of Walker.
Wilding, though, never looked like adding to his eight-goal tally for the season and Adaggio failed to make the most of the opportunities that came his way.
Clyde was City’s most potent threat in the first-half, sending a header wide of the woodwork and also firing past the upright.
The assistant player-manager was also at the centre of a goalmouth scramble which saw Jake Newton hack off the line with keeper Aaron Howe stranded.
Havant continually frustrated their supporters with slack passing and when their opener came it was a gift.
Fogden’s turn inside the area tricked Walker and the Hawks midfielder went tumbling over the City player’s outstretched leg.
Referee John Scott could not have been better placed to award the spot-kick and Williams sent Jake Meredith the wrong way from 12 yards.
City, however, were undeterred and came back strongly.
Clyde headed inches over from Graham Ward’s free-kick and, on the stroke of half-time, Adaggio rose to glance Wilding’s cross wide of the far post.
But a Meredith error let in Havant for their second goal in the 54th minute.
Williams burst into the area and saw his shot saved by the keeper but the ball wriggled free of Meredith’s grasp and Williams had the easiest of tap-ins.
Clyde brought the visitors back into the match with a thumping left-foot volley 13 minutes later and suddenly it seemed as though they might salvage a point.
Adaggio had a glorious chance soon after but, having been excellently played in by Walker for a one-on-one with Howe, he lofted the ball over the keeper and agonisingly wide of the post.
Wilding blazed over when well-placed on 79 minutes and, seconds later, Havant swooped for a third.
Williams held off Wayne Daniel and smashed the ball beyond Meredith for his hat-trick.
That appeared to be game over but City were not finished and Carter ghosted in behind the defence to nod home Rob Davies’ cross in the 90th minute.
With seconds remaining, Walker thought he had earned a precious point but his fizzing volley was superbly pushed over the bar by Howe.
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