Eastleigh FC

EASTLEIGH v AFC WIMBLEDON TUESDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2006 FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round – Replay An exciting evenings entertainment was overshadowed by a penalty defeat for Eastleigh when really they could have won the game inside normal time. David Hughes, back from the flu, gave Eastleigh the lead eleven minutes from the end but Wombles substitute Scott Fitzgerald sent the game into extra time at the death. An almost carbon copy goal from Fitzgerald in the first half of extra time gave Wimbledon the advantage but Steve West’s header forced the dreaded penalties. Had Eastleigh won it would have been the first time the club have reached the first round proper in the competition. This match of course, was as a result of Saturdays equally action packed 1-1 draw with both sides finishing with ten men. The only change for the Spitfires from the weekend was the fit again David Hughes replacing young midfielder Phil Cousins in the centre of midfield. Wimbledon had a glorious opportuni...

In the FA Trophy this afternoon, Eastleigh lost Jamie Brown a minute before the break for a straight red (although, Brown had already been shown a yellow card earlier in the game). Just a minute later and on the stroke of half time, Darren Wheeler netted the opener. AFC Wimbledon, playing in front of fantastic support with over 1,000 in attendance, forced a replay with nineteen minutes remaining - striker Roscoe D'Sane the scorer. Eastleigh will now host AFC Wimbledon this Tuesday at the Silverlake Stadium, 7:45pm kick off. 25th November 2006 - AFC Wimbledon 1 Eastleigh 1 Report by Ray Murphy This incident packed F A Challenge Trophy Third Qualifying Round replay fixture, concluded with the requirement of a replay at Eastleigh on Tuesday evening. Manager Paul Doswell must have been much happier with the performance of his team against Ryman League Premier Division AFC Wimbledon. For the home side it was already their third game in the competition this season whilst Eastl...

EASTLEIGH - Grant Porter, Jack Smith, Sam Stannard (c), Scott Gilham, Ian Oliver, Liam Winzar, Karim Hraiba, Andy Weston, James Screen, Martin Beck, Adam Roberts SUBS: Toure Mamadouba, Nicky Cole, Brett Williams, Lee O'Connell, Macs Sampays MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE Suburban League Cup 2nd Round - Eastleigh raced into the next round of the cup with a stunning performance against a lacklustre Hemel Hempstead side. Adam Roberts ensured the Spitfires got off to the best possible start when he despatched an inch perfect cross from James Screen with a lovely header from close range. The home side continued to dominate their next threatening attack seeing a dangerous ball in from left back Ian Oliver turned behind by a good interception. Down the right hand side, Liam Winzar split the visitors' defence wide open with a delightful through ball for Adam Roberts. Keeper Liam Jahn, however, anticipated the danger and snatched it away from Taz. Hempstead had a golden op...

EASTLEIGH V SOUTHAMPTON TUESDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2006 FRIENDLY After a very disappointing defeat at the hands of Cambridge on Saturday, Eastleigh earnt a well-fought victory over a youthful Southampton side featuring David Prutton (who the friendly was set up for to help the midfielder comeback from injury), for the second time this season having beat the Championship side back in pre-season. The result has left people wondering why the same kind of performance and work ethic cannot be shown when it really matters, in the league fixtures, however tonight’s display demonstrated that things can and will get better if the effort is put in. Nathan Dyer and Adam Lallana threatened regularly and it was the trickery of these two talented youngsters that created David McGoldrick a golden opportunity to give the Saints the lead on six minutes. The effort was poor however, and the chance went amiss. Eastleigh’s first attempt on goal came from a corner that was won by Darren Wheeler. T...

18th November 2006 - Cambridge 2 Eastleigh 0   Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh slipped into the bottom three of the Nationwide South with this defeat at Cambridge City. A poor match saw the Spitfires struggling to find the confidence of playing their normal game, which is now seeing the fear factor enter into performances. Still missing regulars through injuries the latest casualty being skipper Andy Harris who was missing from Saturday’s line up. There was little in the way of goalmouth action early on. The eager running and abilities of the two Cambridge front runners Neil Midgley and Lee Roache were both constant thorns in the Eastleigh defence, and justifiably so at the end of the game were given jointly the games man of the match award. Steve West headed Darren Wheeler’s left wing cross wide on fourteen minutes as both sides failed to take control of the game early on. Two minutes later and Eastleigh were behind. The usually dependable Robbie Marshall some twenty five ...

EASTLEIGH - Wayne Shaw, Liam Winzar, Ian Oliver, Nick Cole, Sam Stannard, Karim Hraiba, Adam Roberts, Macs Sampays, Zach Glasspool, Ben Bosley, Martin Beck SUBS: Andy Weston, Brett Williams, Toure Mamadouba, Scott Gilham, James Screen MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE Colden Common took the lead through a 20th minute penalty. Stewart Beck, brother of Eastleigh's Martin Beck, won the kick from a positive run into the box before being brought down unfairly. Centre half, JAMES ATTERBURY stepped up to take it and slotted home to Wayne Shaw's right. Throughout the rest of the half Eastleigh didn't look their usual self and couldn't find a way through. However, BEN BOSLEY came to the rescue in the second forty-five when he levelled the game with around 15 minutes to play. The Spitfires turned the game around moments later when Frenchman KARIM HRAIBA blasted home with the shot being too hot for Common keeper Dave Nicol. 2-1. Sean Lahey was shown a straight red card ...

Having lost out on original target, former Yeovil and Aldershot full back, Chris Giles to Forest Green - Eastleigh have swooped for Thurrock's Tarkan Mustafa, 32, who can play either as right back or as a right sided midfielder. Mustafa, previously of Norwich City, is clearly seen as an ideal replacement for Jason Dodd who will now be able to concentrate on his new role as head coach.   The deal is set to go through on Monday, meaning the new boy should line up for the first time in Eastleigh colours against Southampton in the Tuesday night friendly.

EASTLEIGH: Luke Douglas, Liam Winzar, Lee O'Connell, Scott Gilham, Sam Stannard (c), Adam George, Sayem Kabir, Macs Sampays, Zach Glasspool, Ben Ngwa, Martin Beck SUBS: James Screen, Ben Bosley, Craig Barlow, Callum Maxwell Match Report by Jamie Montigue In the opening stages of the game Eastleigh had a fair few chances with Martin Beck at the heart of it. Beck, who has re-signed for the club following an injury-struck spell at Lymington, was brought down on the left having poked the ball past the full back. From the free kick Beck picked out Ben Ngwa back for the weekend from University, whose header flew wide of goal. Martin Beck also had a free kick float all the way through to the goalkeeper still inside the opening ten minutes of the game. At the other end, Waltham should have punished some lacklustre defending from a well-worked free kick of their own. A dangerous ball in from the right flew across the face of goal but no one attacked the back post and the chance w...

11th November 2006 - Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Eastleigh 1 Report by Ray Murphy In a hastily arranged friendly fixture, Eastleigh put up a good performance against Conference National second placed club Dagenham & Redbridge. Having twice been denied promotion to the Football League in recent seasons, Dagenham are pout keen to obtain a place this season in the Football League for the first time in their history and with both sides having been eliminated from the FA Cup, were keen to show each other their intentions in this competitive friendly fixture. Both sides were below their normal strength, though Eastleigh were missing players through injury and unavailability with the likes of Rob Marshall and Steve West along with their long term injured. The Daggers had their moist of their main ‘rested’ first teamers on the bench as substitutes. Eastleigh had the first attack of the match on six minutes. Darren Wheeler’s cross from the left arrived for skipper Andy Harris who p...

EASTLEIGH V BOURNEMOUTH TUESDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2006 FRIENDLY Eastleigh made a lively start to the match against a Bournemouth side that contained mainly squad players and reserves along with four trialists. For Paul Doswell’s side it was a chance to give his first team players another game before their next Conference South game which is still two weeks away. Changes from the weekend’s starting line up that were defeated by the solitary goal at Farnborough included Jack Smith replacing Martin Thomas at right back, whilst Ian Oliver returned to the side and Darren Wheeler got a full 90 minutes under his belt following his injury. Youngster Phil Cousins also made the starting eleven. David Hughes, Steve West and the latest Eastleigh casualty Bertie Brayley (who has now signed for Braintree), the players missing out. From the first whistle Darren Wheeler’s pace looked like causing a problem to Bournemouth as he demonstrated early on putting former Southampton goalkeeper Neil Moss u...

Jason Dodd has been named as Head Coach having played just three games for the club since his summer move to the Silverlake Stadium. The Dell legend has been struggling with ankle problems and it is believed that the best option for Jason is to stop playing to reduce any further damage. Eastleigh fans will no doubt be delighted that the former Southampton skipper has decided to stay on at the club filling the vacant role of Head Coach following the departure of Mark Blake. In other news Bertie Brayley has signed for Braintree after failing to impress in his short spell at the club. We would like to thank Bertie for his efforts and wish him well in the future. The decision was agreed mutually as it was believed that with Darren Wheeler returning to full fitness and Martin Beck now in the frame, chances would be few and far between for the former West Ham United youngster.

Eastleigh host AFC Bournemouth at the Silverlake Stadium this coming Tuesday (7th November). With the first team without a fixture next weekend, the club have been quick to arrange this friendly at short notice. It will be a 7:30pm kick off and the admission is £5 for everyone accept under 16's who get in for free. It is thought that both sides will treat it as a first team game.

Report by Ray Murphy 4th November 2006 Conference South Farnborough Town 1 Eastleigh 0 What a difference a week makes. Seven days earlier at The Silverlake, Eastleigh were basking in the glory of beating the leagues top placed side and deservedly so with an excellent performance. A week later Eastleigh left the pitch having lost by the same single goal score line, but to the bottom of the table Farnborough Town, seeing their side lift themselves off the foot of the table for the first time this season although somewhat hampered in that case by having started the season with a ten point deduction for going into administration. Manager Paul Doswell was enforced to make one change from the side that had beaten Histon with Jamie Brown missing through injury so Bertie Brayley rejoined the starting line up. It was though to be one of those afternoons. For sure the Eastleigh back line look a much more solid unit, new keeper James Pullen again impressed anything coming near the si...

Eastleigh Res. v Harefield Utd Suburban Premier EASTLEIGH: Luke Douglas, Liam Winzar, Peter Castle, Sam Stannard (c), Lee O'Connell, Sayem Kabir, Karim Hraiba, Nicky Cole, James Screen, Zach Glasspool, Adam Roberts SUBS: Adam George, Ben Bosley, Callum Maxwell, Scott Gilham Match Report by Jamie Montigue Eastleigh lost out to a last minute strike that punished the Spitfires badly for not taking even one of their numerous chances. Inside the opening ten minutes the home side should have been awarded a penalty. Karim Hraiba's chipped pass was deflected into the path of Zach Glasspool who nipped in ahead of the Harefield goalkeeper chipping over his outstretched arm before being clearly brought down inside the box. The referee however, didn't want to know. Moments later the ball was in the back of the net thanks to a lovely strike from Glasspool, only the whistle had already been blown for an offside decision. It looked like the early pressure had paid off whe...

Report by Jamie Montigue A combination of first team and reserve players showed up at Wessex League side Hamble last night and ran out 5-2 victors. Bertie Brayley scored twice inside the opening stages of the game before Hamble fought their way back to 2-2. In the second half Eastleigh went 3-2 up via a Zach Glasspool strike that saw him neatly work an opening before drilling the ball into the bottom left hand corner. The Spitfires extended their lead through two Darren Wheeler penalties. Firstly, Glasspool was chopped down as he advanced on goal. Wheeler stepped up to side foot to the keepers left to make it 4-2. His second goal was an even better strike. There was however, some debate as to whether the nippy winger was fouled in the first place when the second spot kick was awarded. Wheeler made no mistake from 12 yards burying the ball in the top corner with the Hamble keeper having no chance. Nicky Cole, brother of England international and Chelsea midfielder Joe, got ...