Saints through to Senior Cup semi-finals

Saints got off to a flying start; Kornelius Hansen firing home after two minutes, before Caleb Watts added to the lead after four.

Tommy Scott made a string of good saves throughout the evening to keep Havant at bay for the most part, with Saints adding to their lead midway through the second half.

Ramello Mitchell finished off a superb move from Dave Horseman’s side, clipping over the keeper to make it three.

Havant responded four minutes later, but Saints saw out the result to book a visit to National League side Eastleigh in the semi-finals.

With injuries hitting the side, Saints fielded a youthful outfit at Snows Stadium; the likes of keeper Tommy Scott, Allan Tchaptchet and Sam Bailey amongst the starting eleven.

But it didn’t take long for Saints to mark their intent; Hansen cutting in from the right flank and finishing clinically into the far corner after just two minutes.

Less than two minutes later the lead was doubled, Hansen involved again firing an effort at Havant keeper Adam Parkes, with the parried effort falling to Watts who made no mistake.

The visitors looked to respond to the early Saints onslaught; Alfie Rutherford and Jonah Ayunga having efforts which were saved by Scott and blocked by Tchaptchet respectively.

Saints had another glorious chance to extend the lead just past the 20-minute mark; Mitchell being found by Tchaptchet and breaking free down the right wing, before squaring the ball to Defise who could only shoot straight at Parkes.

As the half wore on the conditions worsened with the rain and wind picking up; Watts shooting from range in the 33rd minute but seeing his effort go just wide.

Hansen looked a handful all game, having a further low, drilled shot just shy of the 35-minute mark which had Parkes scrambling but ultimately went wide.

Havant kept looking for a response but struggled to get past a stubborn Saints defence for the most part of the first half; Bedsente Gomis finding space on the edge of the box in the 39th minute but drilling his shot wide.

Benny Read then went close for the visitors five minutes short of the break, his curling effort from the right wing missing the target by inches as Scott was sent scrambling.

Tarbuck went close again with less than two minutes of the half remaining, but Saints were able to hold on to their early first half lead.

It was Havant who had the first real effort of the second half, Ayunga hitting a fierce effort which Scott did well to push clear in the 51^st minute.

But Saints continued to look a threat on the counter; Sam Bailey producing an outrageous through ball from deep to feed through Watts, whose eventual shot was well blocked.

Hansen used his pace to trouble Havant as the half grew older; leaving the likes of Dean Beckwith and Andy Drury in his wake, before unleashing an effort which went comfortably wide in the end.

Ultimately it was Saints who added a third; Olaigbe being played through and perfectly squaring it to Mitchell.

The forward had pressure from the tracking defender and onrushing keeper but clipped the ball brilliantly over Parkes to make it three with 20 minutes to go.

But Havant responded in the best possible fashion; Beckwith heading home from a free-kick just four minutes later to keep Saints on their toes, making it 3-1.

Saints had Scott to thank in the 81st minute, making a great save down to his left side to deny Josh Taylor as the home side pressed.

The temperatures continued to drop but never did Saints’ intensity, substitutes Jayden Smith and Kegs Chauke following suit from the players they replaced by pressing the Havant defence.

Havant had another wonderful chance with four minutes to go; Tarbuck seemingly having to score at the back post but for a superb Scott save with his feet which deflected the effort onto the bar.

But Saints eventually withstood the visitors’ pressure, booking their semi-final visit to National League side Eastleigh.

Their attentions now return to the Premier League Cup on Friday night, as they visit AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium (7pm GMT).

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