Staines Town v Eastleigh
1ST TEAM MATCH REPORTS
Staines Town v Eastleigh
SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2010
BLUE SQUARE SOUTH
Eastleigh introduced Portsmouth F C loan signing Luke Wilkinson into the defence to partner Tom Jordan, that being the only change in personnel to the side that played at Basingstoke the previous midweek. Andy Forbes took up his more familiar role of striker as Lee Roache dropped to the substiotutes. Their hosts for the afternoon Staines Town were on a eleven match unbeaten run having drawn two of those games but victorious in the remainder. It was a very resolute Eastleigh display though that saw them bring home three points.
It was an entertaining start to the game with both sides intent on attacking. Despite the obvious intentions from both sides, neither goalkeeper was called to make a save in the opening minutes though both had seen some of the action. Eastleigh then got themselves ahead with the first shot on target in the thirteenth minute. SAM BUTLER'S twenty-five yard free kick flew beyond the outstretched Staines goalkeeper Louis Wells and Eastleigh were ahead with Butler's first goal for the club.
Four minutes later Butler's deep corner was headed back by Forbes but Ross Bottomley could only fire over the bar. There were very few chances for either side but Staines started some good flowing moves as the half entered its final stages. The nearest the home side had came to equalising was on forty minutes when Wells' deep kick had Jason Matthews scrambling back just to avoid any embarrassment.
The last couple of minutes of normal first half playing time though, saw a fine run by Mazin Ahmed run the ball into the feet of ex-Eastleigh striker Leroy Griffiths, but Danny Smith blocked the striker's attempt then Wilkinson produced a fine defensive header to clear another cross into the six yard Eastleigh area.
With four minutes of stoppage time added to the first period, Eastleigh were celebrating a second goal. Pete Adeniyi's long ball down the right hand touchline was collected by Gillespie who used his strength to shrug off one challenge before sending the ball into the box where the Staines centre back YADO MAMBO only succeeded in powering past his own keeper Wells to double the advantage.
HALF TIME: Staines Town 0 Eastleigh 2
Nine minutes into the second period Adeniyi and Forbes combined allowing Riviere an angled shot which was saved by Wells. But again there were few chances created in the second period. In fact again neither goalkeeper was troubled until the latter stages of the game.
With seventy-six minutes played Griffiths' left wing cross cum shot cannoned off the upright and away to safety, but Staines were given a lifeline with eighty-three minutes played. Substitutes Howard Newton's cross-struck the hand of Riviere and referee Stephen Child awarded a penalty. GRIFFITHS fired home the penalty.
On eighty seven minutes Tom Jordan's long distance header out of defence again saw Gillespie run in behind the Staines back line, Gillespie ran on and slipped the ball low down past the advancing keeper Wells' left hand but the custodian managed to claw the ball into his grasp.
On the stroke of full time Griffiths played another ball into the Eastleigh six-yard box this time Mambo arrived but only managed to fire high over the bar. Eastleigh managed to play the final minutes of the game out though had one scare when in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Scott Taylor had time to tee himself up and send a volley beyond Matthews but the effort was ruled out by an offside flag.
FULL TIME: Staines Town 1 Eastleigh 2
RAY MURPHY
