Havant and Waterlooville
Title contenders leading into December, Havant and Waterlooville unravelled rapidly in the second half of the season recording their lowest National South finish since relegation in 2016. Muhammadu Faal provided the firepower with an impressive twenty-one goals and the Hawks were keeping pace at the top dropping just four points in their first eleven games. A draw at the end of November had the Hampshire side a point behind leaders Dartford with two games in hand. The heavy 5-1 December defeat at home to Worthing and the loss against the Darts eleven days later was just the start of what was to come. The final sixteen games yielded a solitary victory and in March, manager Paul Doswell was banned for twelve games and a week later he was replaced.
2022/2023 Season
National South: 10th
F.A Cup: 4th Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 2nd Round
County Cup: 2nd Round
Top League Scorer: Muhammadu Faal (21 goals)
Manager – Jamie Collins
A non-league career that went full circle saw Collins make over 150 appearances for Havant and Waterlooville in the second-half of the 2000’s. He captained the Hawks in their famous F.A Cup run to the fourth round, losing to Liverpool. A short stint at Hampton and Richmond Borough was followed by spells with Newport County, where he won the National South, Aldershot Town, Forest Green Rovers and Eastleigh. A second National South title was claimed at Sutton United during a five-year spell which included over 200 appearances. He returned to the Hawks in June 2021 and was appointed manager this March.
Summer Transfers
Dartford swooped in for former Hawks, Joash Nembhard, Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Paul Rooney in the summer. Whilst a ex-Dart, Kai Innocent moved to Havant and Waterlooville from Eastbourne Borough. Ansu Janneh, Joe McNerney and Brendan Willson move down a division from Dagenham and Redbridge, Woking and Eastleigh respectively. Tom Mehew joins from Chippenham Town, Roarie Deacon from Maidstone United, Tom Blair from Weymouth and Devante Stanley from National South playoff finalists St Albans City.
| Transfers In | Transfers Out |
| Tom Mehew (Chippenham Town) | Joash Nembhard (Dartford) |
| Ansu Janneh (Dagenham and Redbridge) | Paul Rooney (Dartford) |
| Kai Innocent (Eastbourne Borough) | Tyrell Miller-Rodney (Dartford) |
| Joe McNerney (Woking) | Joe Newton (Solihull Moors) |
| Roarie Deacon (Maidstone United) | Danny Wright (Gloucester City) |
| Brendan Willson (Eastleigh) | Jake Andrews (Swindon Supermarine) |
| Tom Blair (Weymouth) | Sam Magri (AFC Totton) |
| Devante Stanley (St Albans City) | Charlie Ruff (Chelmsford City) |
| Tommy Wright (Winchester City) | |
| Josh Passley (Bromley) | |
| Gianni Crichlow (Tonbridge Angels) | |
| Oscar Gobern |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 8 / Havant and Waterlooville wins: 5 / Draws: 5
Previous Matches
Havant and Waterlooville 1 – 3 Dartford (14/12/2022 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 2 Havant and Waterlooville (16/08/2022 – National South)
Dartford 1 – 1 Havant and Waterlooville (19/03/2022 – National South)
Havant and Waterlooville 0 – 1 Dartford (09/02/2022 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Havant and Waterlooville (31/10/2020 – National South)
Havant and Waterlooville 1 – 2 Dartford (25/07/2020 – National South Playoff)
Next Meetings
Dartford v Havant and Waterlooville – Saturday 21st October 2023
Havant and Waterlooville v Dartford – Saturday 6th April 2024
Statistics
- Dartford’s home defeat last season is their only loss to Havant and Waterlooville in the last eight league games (W4, D3)
- The Darts have won one of their last four at home against the Hawks (D2, L1)
- Dartford have won their last two away games in the league at Westleigh Park and last three including the playoff win in July 2020
Match Highlights – 2022/2023