Uxbridge Soar as Hawks Fail to Take Flight

Havant & Waterlooville 0-2 Uxbridge | Southern League Premier South

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | Attendance: 743

In the corresponding fixture last season, Uxbridge threw away a two-goal lead late on in a chaotic and exciting 3-3 draw—a collapse that would unfortunately become a recurring theme as the 2025/26 campaign progressed. On Tuesday evening, however, there were positive signs that those defensive frailties may have been rectified. Uxbridge put in a highly resilient and clinical away performance to take all three points against Havant & Waterlooville. A first-half own goal and a powerful strike from Francis Amartey proved to be the difference, while a resolute defensive display ensured a well-deserved clean sheet.

There was just one change for the Reds from Saturday’s opening-day win over Chippenham Town, with Troy Perez-Duah coming into the starting eleven in place of Josh Boorn, who dropped to the bench. The match started with a physical edge, as an early foul on Jack Burchell went unpunished in the 2nd minute. The hosts immediately looked to capitalise on home advantage, getting on the front foot and forcing Uxbridge goalkeeper Dino Kaiser into a sharp, crucial save at his near post just a minute later. Uxbridge quickly found their rhythm and began to dictate the wide areas. In the 7th minute, the ever-willing George Moore did brilliantly to deliver a low cross to the back post, where Amartey was somehow denied by a last-ditch defensive block that turned the ball around the post. The hosts responded instantly with a counter on the right, but the resulting shot was scuffed wide by Ryan Seager.

As the half progressed, Uxbridge turned the screw. In the 23rd minute, the impressive Ollie McCoy surged forward and drove a cross that Kerbey in the Havant goal could only palm into the path of Amartey; unfortunately for the visitors, a frantic double-block from the keeper and a retreating defender kept the score level. Just a minute later, Ciaran Martin broke dangerously down the left, forcing another desperate clearance over the bar.

The pressure finally paid off in the 26th minute. McCoy once again broke free down the left channel, and his dangerous low cross caused chaos in the six-yard box, ultimately being turned into his own net by a backtracking HW defender to put the Reds one up and deservedly so. Havant looked for a quick response, and in the 29th minute, Alan Massey was booked for bringing down a home attacker on the edge of the box. However, the resulting free-kick was smashed straight into the grateful arms of Kaiser.

Uxbridge doubled their advantage just five minutes later. Massey played a superb ball over the top; Amartey latched onto it and outmuscled his defender—with many behind the goal anticipating a foul being called. However, it never came, and Amartey didn’t hesitate, lashing a fierce strike home to make it 2-0. The hosts had a golden chance to reduce the deficit before the break, with Paul McCallum sending a free header over the bar in the 39th minute when well-placed. Uxbridge almost added a third just before the whistle when the ball dropped kindly to Moore running into the box, but he couldn't generate enough power on his shot to trouble the keeper.

HT: 0-2

Havant & Waterlooville came out for the second half visibly fired up, applying plenty of early pressure as they chased a way back into the game. There were plenty of early crosses into the Uxbridge box, dealt with superbly all evening by the impressive partnership of Massey and Burchell at the back. Despite the pressure, Uxbridge remained highly dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 52nd minute, McCoy perfectly beat the offside trap, delivering a low cross from the left that Perez-Duah just steered wide of the target on the stretch.

As the half wore on, Havant & Waterlooville began to press higher but struggled to find a clinical finish. Leon Maloney drove forward powerfully in the 64th minute but lashed his effort over the crossbar. Uxbridge nearly punished them a minute later when Amartey showcased great strength to hold off his marker, sliding a low cross to Perez-Duah at the near post, but the resulting shot was deflected over.

The final twenty minutes saw the home team peppering the Uxbridge goal from distance as frustration set in. Imran Uche curled a 25-yard effort just wide in the 70th minute, and another strike sailed inches over the crossbar moments later. Maloney tried his luck again in the 87th minute, but once more, the long-range shot lacked the accuracy to test Kaiser in the Uxbridge goal.

Deep into stoppage time, Havant & Waterlooville finally managed to break into the penalty area for a clear sight of goal. The ball broke loose in the box to Seager—who had broken Reds' hearts late on last season—but this time Kaiser pulled off a magnificent reflex save from a fierce snapshot, ensuring Uxbridge traveled home with a 2-0 win and a flawless defensive record from the two matches so far.

FT: 0-2