Wins in the cups provided the Hawks with some respite from their disappointing league form so far this season. After a young Bournemouth side was dispatched with relative ease 4-0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup, Havant came through an epic battle with Southern League Larkhall Athletic over two games in the FA Cup. After a draw in the away fixture, a Tuesday night replay was needed at the Westleigh to decide who would progress to the third qualifying round. 
Despite dominating possession the Hawks fell behind early on to really bring the cup tie alive. Havant pressed for the rest of the half and eventually the visitor's resilience was broken with two headed goals from Dan Strugnell and Matt Paterson before the break turning the tie around. Paterson added a third on the hour to seemingly put the game to bed but far more was to follow with a very eventful final fifteen minutes. Larkhall were reduced to ten men but despite this numerical advantage managed to reduce the arrears to make it 3-2 and seemingly bring the game back to life. However substitute Scott Donnelly soon restored the two goal cushion but this was far from the end of the action as Patterson was denied a hat trick when his penalty was saved and the visitors managed to obtain two further red cards to finish the match with eight men. Hawks reward was a third qualifying round tie in Essex against Ryman League club Aveley FC on 10 October which Hawks won 2 - 0. Hawks reward is an attractive home draw against Cheltenham Town of the Vanarama National League. The tie to be played at the Westleigh on 24 October. Early league results however have been discouraging. August had seen mixed fortunes.
After opening the season with two straight defeats against Bishops Stortford and Sutton United, wins were picked up against Margate, Oxford City and Eastbourne Borough. A run of three straight defeats, including in a 4-1 home defeat to league leaders Ebbsfleet and narrow defeats to top six Maidstone and Whitehawk left the Hawks in a lowly fifteenth place early in October. There have been encouraging signs in the majority of games, especially the goalscoring of Matt Paterson and the cup wins can build some confidence and momentum. Injuries have played their part, with Ed Harris, Brian Stock and Lee Molyneaux missing for long periods, not helping Lee Bradbury’s plans. New signings are also bedding in and on top of the summer signings the Hawks have also added young Calvin Davis and Ramuald Boco on loan from Portsmouth, as well as Lanre Azeez from Maidenhead in the last couple of weeks of September.