A superb performance from Hampton keeper Matt Lovett helped his side to a well deserved point at Westleigh Park and stopped the rot which had seen the Beavers lose three successive league games going into this clash.

After struggling to get to grips with a powerful Havant & Waterloovile side in the first period, the second half sprung into life when Hampton went ahead through Barrie Matthews penalty following the home keeper’s clattering challenge on Lawrence Yaku, only for the hosts to come storming back to force a string of excellent saves from Lovett, including a super stop from Luke Nightingale’s spot kick after Marcello Fernandes had been adjudged to have brought down Wes Fogden inside the box.

But Lovett’s resistance was finally ended when Steve Hutchings headed home Jake Newton’s cross for the Hawks’ equaliser.

The starting line-up for Hampton & Richmond Borough had only one change from the previous week’s defeat at Dover Athletic, a surprise early return for Craig Tanner at left back in place of Graham Harper. Tanner coming back into the side after the nasty head injury he received during the Bishop’s Stortford game ten days ago.

On a fine sunny afternoon in Hampshire, The Beavers found themselves on the back foot for long spells of the first half, as Havant dominated possession without managing to find the finishing touch,. Gary MacDonald heading over from a corner in the opening minute.

An early foray into the home side’s half saw good work out on the left between Tanner and Craig Dundas, but the resulting cross from Tanner was easily cleared.

Havant’s danger man, Manny Williams, who last week collected the Blue Square South Player of the Month award for August, showed why he is one to fear in this league when he used his pace down the right before pulling the ball back to Hutchings, but a great sliding block from Orlando Jeffrey denied the Havant forward.

Matt Lovett then made a fine stop to deny Gary MacDonald from another header, and the visiting custodian produced a great double stop, diving to keep out Steve Walker and then the follow up effort from Fogden.

After defending resolutely a succession of corners from the Hawks, Hampton began to search for an attacking response of their own, Dundas firing tamely straight at Havant keeper Aaron Howe just after the half hour mark, and five minutes after that the visitors best chance so far fell to former Havant captain Jamie Collins, when Howe’s poor punch landed at his feet on the edge of the box, but he was denied a goal on his return to the club he left in the summer by a goal line clearance from Newton.

The closing stages of the first period saw Walker flash a shot across the six yard box for the Hawks, while a neat lay-off from Yaku teed up Dundas who fired narrowly over.

Both sides came out for the second half unchanged, with Hampton trying to build on a promising end to the first period with Yaku showing a quick burst of pace before firing across the face of goal, but Havant came back with Williams, the leading scorer in the division with eleven strikes already who had been quieter than expected, set off on a run before laying the ball to Walker who hit a shot narrowly wide.

The loyal band of Hampton fans thought their side had been reduced to ten men just after the hour mark when Orlando Jeffrey appeared to have been sent off, only for him to re-emerge onto the field of play moments later with everyone scratching their heads in confusion.

Two minutes later though there was no confusion as Yaku bore down on a long ball, just beating Howe to it before the Hawks keeper held him back as the trigger was about to be pulled. The referee pointed to the spot and booked Howe for the challenge, with away support baying for a red rather than a yellow. Matthews stepped up to take the kick, placing a firm shot to the keeper’s right, as he dived left.

Havant responded immediately, Walker again trying his luck at goal from distance, but once again Lovett was more than equal to it, pushing it over the bar.

Back came Hampton, growing in stature as the game wore on, scorer Matthews showing good feet just inside the box before striking an effort just past the angle of bar and post.

With 18 minutes to go though, the game saw the award of a second penalty, this time to Havant, as Fernandes brought down Fogden. Former Portsmouth striker Nightingale, today playing on the wing, stepped up but Lovett produced a fantastic save, diving at full stretch to his left to push away the strike.

The home side were not to be denied though, when with 80 minutes gone on the clock, a cross from Newton found Hutchings unmarked in the box and he beat Lovett to the ball to force a deserved equaliser.

With the weather making a dramatic change, dark clouds rolling in bringing with it a downpour, conditions became tricky as both sides went to try and find a winner in the closing stages, without managing to create a clear cut opportunity.

Hampton substitute Ashley Smith sent over a dangerous cross in stoppage time, which was just too high for the head of Jon McDonald.

The Beavers fans headed home at the final whistle happy to take a point after three previous pointless outings, with Matt Lovett deservedly taking the plaudits after a man-of-the-match performance.

Next week the league campaign takes a back seat as Hampton travel to Braintree for an FA Cup 2nd qualifying round tie.

Havant & Waterlooville; Howe, Newton, MacDonald, Walker, Gasson, Simpemba, Fogden (Wilkinson 88), Nightingale, Williams (Tiryaki 66), Hutchings, Woodford. Booked; Howe, Simpemba GOAL; Hutchings 79.

Hampton & Richmond Borough; Lovett, Fernandes, Tanner, Jeffrey, Scarborough, Wells, Collins, McDonald, Dundas, Yaku (Smith 77), Matthews (Lake 88). Booked; Jeffrey, Fernandes GOAL; Matthews 64 (pen)

Att: 920