HAVANT & Waterlooville have pulled out of next Tuesday's scheduled pre-season friendly at Sholing.

 Hawks boss Lee Bradbury took his players off the pitch two minutes from the end of their goalless 'friendly' at Hungerford Town on Tuesday, admitting: "I feared for my players' safety in what was supposed to be a friendly.

 "Player safety is paramount and I decided to call my players off and the game was abandoned."

 Skipper Ed Harris was left needing stitches after being elbowed across the forehead and Hungerford's Harry Goodger was shown a straight red in the dying minutes.

As a result of that bruising battle, Havant have cancelled this Tuesday’s pre-season fixture at FA Vase winners Sholing.

An H&W statment confirmed: “The pre-season match against Sholing FC that was meant to be played on July 29 has now been called off.

“This is due to injuries/illness to the Hawks first-team squad, currently running at seven players.

“It is felt that nothing can be gained by playing this extra fixture and the club would like to thank Sholing FC for their understanding in this matter.”

To add to Bradbury's woes, Hawks striker Dennis Oli has done a u-turn and opted to leave Westleigh Park to join Conference South new boys Hemel Hempstead Town.

"We had agreed a deal with the player and basically we have been gazumped at the last minute," said Bradbury. 

 

Havant are now desperate to keep hold of striker Scott Jones, who has been unveiled as a new signing by Sydenhams Wessex outfit Newport IoW.