Eastleigh 1-2 Oxford United

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EASTLEIGH V OXFORD UNITED

WEDNESDAY 26TH JULY 2006
PRE SEASON FRIENDLY

Eastleigh suffer a second successive defeat on the back of the Bashley 3-1 loss on Saturday. Things started off well for the Spitfires going in 1-0 at half time thanks to Dave Town’s strike but Oxford substitute Yemi Odubade came on in the second half to change the game with two good finishes to allow Jim Smith’s side to run out victors.

In the third minute of the game United’s Andy Burgess found a way past Jason Dodd, who was making his home debut for Eastleigh, to go clean through on goal however Paul Musselwhite was quick to react with a strong one handed save to divert the effort.

A short way into the game the home side had the ball in the back of the net although the goal did not stand as the corner kick from Dodd went out of play before Steve Forbes turned the ball in past Billy Turley in the Oxford goal.

Paul Doswell’s latest capture, Jefferson Louis impressed in the early stages of the game as he showed his target man capabilities, along with strength, power and height. Eastleigh were playing some good passing football using the nearest man so as to keep the ball and stay in possession and this attractive play led to a succession of corner kicks due to excellent build up play.

Oxford had their fair share of the ball as well but only after Steve Forbes came close from a Darren Wheeler free kick on the right hand side. Former Southampton academy player Eddie Anaclet starred for Oxford playing as an attacking right full back. Anaclet looked dangerous coming forward as he showed in the 22nd minute of the game when he impressively weaved his way through the Eastleigh defence to create an opening with his speculative effort going inches wide of Paul Musselwhite’s goal.

The first goal of the game came just over half an hour into the game. Jason Dodd played a short free kick to Darren Wheeler who took one touch to get the ball out of his feet before putting in an inch perfect delivery to find Brian Dutton on the penalty spot. The former Weymouth man knocked the ball down to Dave Town who smashed the ball home with a first time strike to end a wonderfully crafted passing move to open the scoring.

On the stroke of half time Oxford came close to an equaliser. Only the positional sense and awareness of Adam James kept the ball out on the goal line to keep Eastleigh 1-0 up going into the break.

HALF TIME – Eastleigh 1-0 Oxford

Four minutes into the second half David Hughes replaced Brian Dutton who played his part in the only goal of the game up to this point.

The Spitfires continued to pressurise their opponents for a short while having a couple of corner kicks in a short space of time. A great cross from Jason Dodd in the 59th minute nearly saw Matt Bound nod the ball home but he was only just beaten to the ball as Eastleigh looked to build on their 1-0 lead.

Eastleigh made three more substitutions with Darren Wheeler, Jason Dodd and Dave Town being replaced by new signing Liam Green, Martin Thomas and Ashley Jarvis just after the hour mark.

After a relatively steady performance from the Spitfires for the majority of the first half, Oxford came back into the game with two goals in the space of two minutes as things started to go downhill for the home side.

Oxford substitute Yemi Odubade grabbed the equaliser on 67 minutes as he latched on to a defence splitting through ball, tucking it past Musselwhite with a cool, calm finish.

Moments later United were in front. Odubade scored his second of the match by side-stepping two challenges from Matt Bound and Adam James before drilling the ball hard and low from 18 yards.

Jefferson Louis did all he could to make something happen for Eastleigh by using his strength once more and flicking the ball on into the path of strike partner Ashley Jarvis. The lively substitute did well under pressure to shake off a challenge and allow Danny Smith to step in and spray the ball wide to Liam Green but his dangerous cross from the left went straight through a crowd of players.

The last of the action of the game saw a right wing cross from Brian Dutton fly past the intended target of Louis and with the Oxford keeper beaten the ball went agonisingly wide.

FULL TIME – Eastleigh 1-2 Oxford

JAMIE MONTIGUE

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