Bradbury Won't Water Down Hawks’ Joint Leader Battle

Often, big matches bring out buttoned lips. Managers usually run scared of suggesting a tussle at the top is anything more than just another game in a long and testing season.

Havant & Waterlooville manager Lee Bradbury knows his team’s supporters and players won’t buy all that. He won’t even try to spin that line to himself.

This weekend sees the National League South’s two joint leaders clash at Princes Park.

Separated by only goal different, Bradbury refuses to disguise the importance of what’s ahead on Saturday.

Dartford, top by mathematics, face the biggest threat to their unbeaten home record against a team who have mastered playing on the road.

“These are the sort of games you want to be involved in as a player and manager,” said the Hawks manager in an interview with the Portsmouth News.

“The title won’t be won or lost in this one game, but it is still massively influential.

“Both teams are at the top for a reason and it has all the makings of being a great advert for our league. For us it is important we come back with something.”

He won’t play it down and nor should he. Havant are incredible away from home - they’ve won as many as Manchester City on their travels and you’ll struggle to find a club with better away form to their name.

“There will be more pressure on Dartford because they are at home and also because we are level on points with them with a game in hand,” he said.

“We know they will come at us and we will need to be solid and organised to deal with that.

“At the moment we are in a good place, losing just once in our last 17 games.”

Where next?

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