Eastleigh-FC

 

1ST TEAM MATCH REPORTS

Weston-super-Mare v Eastleigh

MONDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2008

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

Forty-eight hours earlier Eastleigh FC produced their worst display for some time, this performance restored some of the faith back in them with a determination to show that the St Alban's fiasco was a one off.

Andy Harris returned to the side from injury whilst there was a first start of the season for David Hughes, Aaron Martin and James Baker making way for them as they dropped to the bench where they were joined by returnee Warren Goodhind after a short spell at Harrow Borough. Jamie Brown playing in a striker's role lining up again with his ex Dorchester team mate and front-runner Matt Groves.

The early showings were worrying though. The home side with ex Eastleigh striker Ashan Holgate leading their attack had the ball in the net after only five minutes. Marvin Brown saw an effort blocked the ball running for Andy Gurney who turned the ball into the net only to be denied by the flag of an assistant for being in an offside position. Eastleigh also produced an early attempt on the eighth minute Tony Taggart combing well with Groves before firing a shot against the foot of the post.

The half developed into a non descript affair with neither side taking control of the midfield. As the game approached the interval Eastleigh started to hold the upper hand. Brown turned inside his defender on thirty-seven minutes but saw his long rang e shot saved by Ryan Northmore. A minute later Anthony Riviere sent a dipping drive just over the bar and on the stroke of half time Harris fired in a free kick that hit a defender falling for Riviere who fired over the target again. 

HALF TIME: Weston-super-Mare 0-0 Eastleigh

A damp second period brought more chances for both sides. Nine minutes into the period Riviere's through ball saw Brown shoot narrowly wide then Taggart had another effort saved by Northmore.Trevor Challis had to be alert to keep wing man Dean Grubb contained, one time Grubb did get past Challis in the sixty third minute saw the winger’s cross fly across the face of the Eastleigh goal but no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch. Eastleigh did fall behind on seventy-two minutes.  A long clearance from Northmore was not dealt with by the Eastleigh defence, Jason Matthews had to punch the ball clear only falling invitingly for BEN WELLS to turn on the edge of the box and place the ball into the corner of the net.

Wells was denied a second by a good save from Matthews after seventy five minutes, then four minutes later both Holgate and Brow failed to turn home a cross from Darren Mullings when unmarked in the area. Grubb had a run and final shot blocked by Riviere with nine minutes remaining as the home side looked for a deciding goal.

With three minutes remaining Eastleigh scored to claim a point they fully deserved. Luke Byles turned Harris’ corner back across goal and substitute JAMES BAKER turned home his third league goal of the season.

FULL TIME: Weston-super-Mare 1-1 Eastleigh

RAY MURPHY