Havant clinch West championship

Havant 2022/23 West Conference champions.

Havant clinched the West Conference championship - and a return to the National South Division - with a nervy 2-1 win over  Clifton Robinsons.  James Speke and Jon Pickett converted penalty corner.

​Havant have wrapped up the West Conference title with two matches left – a nervy 2-1 win over Clifton Robinsons putting them in an unassailable positive above second placed Isca in the log.
It was Havant’s their 11th win in 16 outings – only Chichester have beaten them all season – and ensured a return to National South Division hockey next autumn.
It wasn’t a champagne performance by any means, indeed Havant needed a series of fine saves by their Polish international goalkeeper Maciej Pacanowski [pictured left] to keep them in the contest after an untidy opening half.
Havant’s sixth minute lead from a James Speke penalty corner drag flick didn’t last long as short corner specialist Tom Salmon put the Bristol side level and then almost score again.
Clifton, who had scored 23 times in six matches since the Christmas/New Year break, asked a lot of questions during the second quarter, with Pacanowski making vital saves to maintain the score at 1-1.
Havant survived some more scrapes before Jonathan Pickett sent an unstoppable shot past Clifton keeper Andy Hughes to restore the lead at 2-1.
Belying their lowly league position, Clifton refused to lie down and five minutes from time had a potentially deserved equaliser disallowed.
Havant had got out of jail and went on to celebrate the championship.

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