Harefield snatch it
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 when Eastleigh were awarded a penalty in the fifteen minute following the earlier decision going against them. It came about through Glasspool skillfully squeezing past two challenges before being flattened inside the area.
The young striker Glasspool who did so well in winning the spot kick, fluffed his attempt from 12 yards sending the ball comfortably wide with his left foot.
Despite this blow, Eastleigh continued to take the game to their opponents but just couldn't find a way through. Peter Castle nodded wide on 23 minutes and then Karim Hraiba had a typical well struck attempt spilled by the keeper following good build up play involving James Screen and Zach Glasspool.
Adam Roberts came even close on the half hour mark. A neat through ball from Nicky Cole started the move as he picked out Glasspool. Roberts, had time as he was set up and stroked the ball against the post with the Harefield keeper relieved as it bounced back and into the safety of his gloves.
Eastleigh again came close five minutes later, this time a righ sided corner from Hraiba was spilled by the keeper falling kindly for Nicky Cole. Nicky, brother of Joe, slipped as he pounced as another relatively easy chance slipped by.
As the half came to a close, the home side were still on top but for all their possession couldn't find the back of the net.
HALF TIME – Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Harefield Utd
Similarly, Eastleigh continued to show signs of control as they began the second half. Adam Roberts had a half chance early on, but his volley flew wide of goal.
A determined run by Nicky Cole saw him beat a number of players managing to get a shot in although in the end it was a comfortable save for the keeper.
At the other end, Liam Winzar was fortunate to get away with a lunge in the penalty area. Winzar formerly of Bournemouth, then had a chance to redeem himself shortly after but skied his attempt from Sayem Kabir's pass.
Harefield gradually came into the game and forced the save of the game out of Eastleigh stopper Luke Douglas. A neatly worked free kick from the visitors saw a clever one-two between the two Harefield front-men work an opening and from point blank range, Douglas kept his side level with a brave save tipping round the post.
Equally as good was yet to come. Harefield's goalkeeper had to be on his game to match a lovely strike from Nicky Cole whose dipping shot looked destined for goal as Eastleigh came forward on the counter attack. The keeper got a good hand to it and not for the first time in the game denied the Spitfires from taking any advantage.
Just after an hour of play, Eastleigh wasted what was a golden opportunity from a free kick. Adam Roberts ran at the Harefield defence before being chopped down just outside the area. The kick was taken far too quickly and resulted in an easy clearance.
It was looking increasingly likely that it was not going to happen for Eastleigh today, especially after another blunder. A Zach Glasspool corner saw the Harefield keeper miss a routine catch leaving with the goal at Peter Castle's mercy. The centre half showed exactly why he is a centre half with a poor finish that cleared the stand behind the goal from only five yards out. This proved to be a big miss, as did the first half penalty but even after this Eastleigh had chances to win it and were still playing some nice football going forward.
Nicky Cole weaved in and out of a couple of challenges bursting forward from the centre of midfield and just managed to poke a shot in towards goal under a lot of pressure, with the effort missing by an inch.
With time running out two strikers were brought on in replace of Zach Glasspool and Sayem Kabir. Both Ben Bosley and Callum Maxwell were introduced to try and find the winner that Eastleigh deserved. The change very nearly worked as Bosley came close with a good swivel and shot from 18 yards.
Karim Hraiba produced another splendid shot from way out but his powerful strike was palmed away from danger.
Good wing play from James Screen forced a corner for Eastleigh into the last ten minutes as his dangerous cross was deflected behind. Nothing came of it though, instead Harefield went in search of a goal at the other end with Harefield's left back casually chipping wide when all it needed was a firm shot as he only had the keeper to beat with the Eastleigh defence out of shape.
With two minutes to go, Eastleigh were awarded a free kick in a good position. Nicky Cole laid it off for Karim Hraiba who drilled the ball ferociously with a sweet strike from 30 yards that had both power and pace but flew just over.
The nail in the coffin came in the final minute of the game. A silly foul was committed near the half way line and the kick was taken quickly with the ball sprayed out to the left. In the blink of an eye a Harefield player had hit the ball through a crowd of players and despite the best efforts of Luke Douglas scrambling across his goal it sneaked in at the far post for a late winner as Eastleigh came away empty handed.
FULL TIME – Eastleigh Res. 0-1 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 when Eastleigh were awarded a penalty in the fifteen minute following the earlier decision going against them. It came about through Glasspool skillfully squeezing past two challenges before being flattened inside the area.
The young striker Glasspool who did so well in winning the spot kick, fluffed his attempt from 12 yards sending the ball comfortably wide with his left foot.
Despite this blow, Eastleigh continued to take the game to their opponents but just couldn't find a way through. Peter Castle nodded wide on 23 minutes and then Karim Hraiba had a typical well struck attempt spilled by the keeper following good build up play involving James Screen and Zach Glasspool.
Adam Roberts came even close on the half hour mark. A neat through ball from Nicky Cole started the move as he picked out Glasspool. Roberts, had time as he was set up and stroked the ball against the post with the Harefield keeper relieved as it bounced back and into the safety of his gloves.
Eastleigh again came close five minutes later, this time a righ sided corner from Hraiba was spilled by the keeper falling kindly for Nicky Cole. Nicky, brother of Joe, slipped as he pounced as another relatively easy chance slipped by.
As the half came to a close, the home side were still on top but for all their possession couldn't find the back of the net.
HALF TIME – Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Harefield Utd
Similarly, Eastleigh continued to show signs of control as they began the second half. Adam Roberts had a half chance early on, but his volley flew wide of goal.
A determined run by Nicky Cole saw him beat a number of players managing to get a shot in although in the end it was a comfortable save for the keeper.
At the other end, Liam Winzar was fortunate to get away with a lunge in the penalty area. Winzar formerly of Bournemouth, then had a chance to redeem himself shortly after but skied his attempt from Sayem Kabir's pass.
Harefield gradually came into the game and forced the save of the game out of Eastleigh stopper Luke Douglas. A neatly worked free kick from the visitors saw a clever one-two between the two Harefield front-men work an opening and from point blank range, Douglas kept his side level with a brave save tipping round the post.
Equally as good was yet to come. Harefield's goalkeeper had to be on his game to match a lovely strike from Nicky Cole whose dipping shot looked destined for goal as Eastleigh came forward on the counter attack. The keeper got a good hand to it and not for the first time in the game denied the Spitfires from taking any advantage.
Just after an hour of play, Eastleigh wasted what was a golden opportunity from a free kick. Adam Roberts ran at the Harefield defence before being chopped down just outside the area. The kick was taken far too quickly and resulted in an easy clearance.
It was looking increasingly likely that it was not going to happen for Eastleigh today, especially after another blunder. A Zach Glasspool corner saw the Harefield keeper miss a routine catch leaving with the goal at Peter Castle's mercy. The centre half showed exactly why he is a centre half with a poor finish that cleared the stand behind the goal from only five yards out. This proved to be a big miss, as did the first half penalty but even after this Eastleigh had chances to win it and were still playing some nice football going forward.
Nicky Cole weaved in and out of a couple of challenges bursting forward from the centre of midfield and just managed to poke a shot in towards goal under a lot of pressure, with the effort missing by an inch.
With time running out two strikers were brought on in replace of Zach Glasspool and Sayem Kabir. Both Ben Bosley and Callum Maxwell were introduced to try and find the winner that Eastleigh deserved. The change very nearly worked as Bosley came close with a good swivel and shot from 18 yards.
Karim Hraiba produced another splendid shot from way out but his powerful strike was palmed away from danger.
Good wing play from James Screen forced a corner for Eastleigh into the last ten minutes as his dangerous cross was deflected behind. Nothing came of it though, instead Harefield went in search of a goal at the other end with Harefield's left back casually chipping wide when all it needed was a firm shot as he only had the keeper to beat with the Eastleigh defence out of shape.
With two minutes to go, Eastleigh were awarded a free kick in a good position. Nicky Cole laid it off for Karim Hraiba who drilled the ball ferociously with a sweet strike from 30 yards that had both power and pace but flew just over.
The nail in the coffin came in the final minute of the game. A silly foul was committed near the half way line and the kick was taken quickly with the ball sprayed out to the left. In the blink of an eye a Harefield player had hit the ball through a crowd of players and despite the best efforts of Luke Douglas scrambling across his goal it sneaked in at the far post for a late winner as Eastleigh came away empty handed.
FULL TIME – Eastleigh Res. 0-1 Harefield Utd.
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