League Table says it all - The only way is up
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 yards from goal allowed the ball to creep under his foot and give Midgley the chance of a run on goal. Marshall raced back to atone for his error and his sliding tackle just inside the area took the ball and in the opinion of the assistant referee, the player and on his advice to the referee a penalty was awarded. Marshall escaped any further punishment. Midgley, the clubs-leading scorer, himself converted the penalty.
The two City strikers were causing concerns. Midway through the half the pair combined allowing Midgley through on goal again but James Pullen was quickly off his line to avert the danger. On twenty-four minutes perhaps the evidence was there for Eastleigh. West controlled Wheeler’s free kick, he cleverly laid the ball into the path of Danny Smith whose shot was blocked by a wall of defenders, Marshall did not connect properly with the rebound but the ball fell for Andy Forbes but his effort was pushed away by home goal keeper Danny Naisbitt.
Chances were starting to be created by both sides. Twenty eight minutes played Roache was allowed to carve his way through the Eastleigh defence but he shot straight at Pullen, seven minutes later an inch perfect David Hughes pass was fired high by Forbes then Hughes himself produced a long range effort that was off target.
As half time approached Pullen made an excellent stop to deny Roache the opportunity of increasing the Cambridge lead whilst Eastleigh saw a Wheeler corner controlled and fired wide by Marshall.
The second period did not bring any improvement to the Eastleigh play. Early chances fell to Roache for Cambridge but his curling shot from the edge of the box went just past the post whilst Charlie Henry’s cross was headed just wide of the target by Midgley. A minute past the hour and Eastleigh were a further goal behind. Roache again got behind the Eastleigh defence and his initial shot was pushed away by Pullen, but the keeper could do nothing to recover as Midgley fired home his and the sides second goal of the afternoon.
Despite the further toil put in by Eastleigh they never really looked like dragging themselves back in the game though the hosts were quite happy with their work for the afternoon. Changing styles and systems, Eastleigh were unfortunate not to have pulled one goal back with twelve minutes remaining. Substitute Martin Thomas cross saw Jamie Brown’s header crash against the bar, the ball falling for Forbes but his effort was again thwarted by Naisbitt. As the game edged to a close Danny Smith had an effort saved from the edge of the box but Eastleigh never really penetrated the Cambridge back line to have clear-cut openings.
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 yards from goal allowed the ball to creep under his foot and give Midgley the chance of a run on goal. Marshall raced back to atone for his error and his sliding tackle just inside the area took the ball and in the opinion of the assistant referee, the player and on his advice to the referee a penalty was awarded. Marshall escaped any further punishment. Midgley, the clubs-leading scorer, himself converted the penalty.
The two City strikers were causing concerns. Midway through the half the pair combined allowing Midgley through on goal again but James Pullen was quickly off his line to avert the danger. On twenty-four minutes perhaps the evidence was there for Eastleigh. West controlled Wheeler’s free kick, he cleverly laid the ball into the path of Danny Smith whose shot was blocked by a wall of defenders, Marshall did not connect properly with the rebound but the ball fell for Andy Forbes but his effort was pushed away by home goal keeper Danny Naisbitt.
Chances were starting to be created by both sides. Twenty eight minutes played Roache was allowed to carve his way through the Eastleigh defence but he shot straight at Pullen, seven minutes later an inch perfect David Hughes pass was fired high by Forbes then Hughes himself produced a long range effort that was off target.
As half time approached Pullen made an excellent stop to deny Roache the opportunity of increasing the Cambridge lead whilst Eastleigh saw a Wheeler corner controlled and fired wide by Marshall.
The second period did not bring any improvement to the Eastleigh play. Early chances fell to Roache for Cambridge but his curling shot from the edge of the box went just past the post whilst Charlie Henry’s cross was headed just wide of the target by Midgley. A minute past the hour and Eastleigh were a further goal behind. Roache again got behind the Eastleigh defence and his initial shot was pushed away by Pullen, but the keeper could do nothing to recover as Midgley fired home his and the sides second goal of the afternoon.
Despite the further toil put in by Eastleigh they never really looked like dragging themselves back in the game though the hosts were quite happy with their work for the afternoon. Changing styles and systems, Eastleigh were unfortunate not to have pulled one goal back with twelve minutes remaining. Substitute Martin Thomas cross saw Jamie Brown’s header crash against the bar, the ball falling for Forbes but his effort was again thwarted by Naisbitt. As the game edged to a close Danny Smith had an effort saved from the edge of the box but Eastleigh never really penetrated the Cambridge back line to have clear-cut openings.
Comments
Post a Comment