Eastleigh Res. 7-1 Hemel Hempstead

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 opportunity to level the game midway through the half. Ashley Addison squandered his chance after being played clean through slipping as he shot with his left foot on the slippery surface.

Shortly after, Martin Beck did a lovely turn on the ball from a right-sided throw in before being hacked down inside the penalty area. Beck himself stepped up to confidently slide in goal number two from 12 yards.

Once Eastleigh had doubled their lead there was only really one team in it. This was made even more evident when just one minute later James Screen bundled home his first for the club finding himself in the right place at the right time following good work from both Adam Roberts and Karim Hraiba in the build up.

3-0 soon became 4 and Eastleigh were now cruising. A well-worked move saw the brilliant James Screen pick up another assist to provide Adam Roberts with a simple finish for what was his second goal of the game. Again, Eastleigh making the most of some poor defending.

HALF TIME - Eastleigh Res. 4-0 Hemel Hempstead

At the break Toure Mamadouba replaced the injured Karim Hraiba who limped off suffering from a heavy challenge sustained in the first half.

It took Eastleigh just three minutes to find their way to goal. It was Martin Beck with the shot from the edge of the area forcing a spectacular one handed save out of Jahn.

Ten minutes in, Beck added to his tally for the afternoon in controversial circumstances. Eastleigh had been awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal when Beck almost instantly curled around the wall and into the net, with the visitors claiming the kick was taken too early. The goal stood and it was now 5-0.

On the hour Scott Gilham made way for Nicky Cole in the centre of defence

The only time Grant Porter came close to being troubled saw Matt Flood clip a post when in the clear.

Captain Sam Stannard made it 6-0 in bizarre fashion on 66 minutes. A deep cross from the right evaded Stannard in the centre but was chipped back in by Beck. Stannard, who was still on the ground from missing the first cross, deflected the ball in whilst completely horizontal. They all count though as they say!

James Screen was unfortunate not to get another goal as he worked an opening before whistling a shot just wide, brushing the side netting.

Hemel Hempstead got a consolation on fifteen minutes from the end as Jack Smith slipped up in the awful conditions of heavy rain. The unfortunate error allowed Joe Russell in to slot past Porter with a relatively easy finish.

Substitute Brett Williams flashed a header just wide of goal before the final moments of the game saw Martin Beck complete a hattrick with his second penalty. The midweek match winner against Southampton had a go from distance that struck a hand in the area. The referee awarded the kick from which Beck calmly slotted to the keepers left to well and truly wrap up a fine performance.

FULL TIME - Eastleigh Res. 7-1 Hemel Hempstead