Eastleigh 0-1 Cambridge City
EASTLEIGH V CAMBRIDGE CITY
SATURDAY 16th DECEMBER 2006
Conference South
Jason Dodd’s first home league game in charge this afternoon saw the visitors, Cambridge come out with a 1-0 victory despite the Spitfires playing some good football in the first forty-five. Despite all the pressure there was very little to show for it and the Lilywhite’s capitalised towards the end when substitute Craig O’Connor fired a 73rd minute winner on his debut.
With both Danny Smith and Andy Harris on the sidelines, the gap in central midfield meant a warm welcome back to Steve Forbes returning to the first team for the first time since his horrific injuries back in August against Fisher Athletic. Both Karim El-Salahi, centre half on loan from Woking, and Carl Wilson-Denis, a forward signed from Havant & Waterlooville, made their home debuts after starring in the draw against Bishops Stortford a week ago.
Eastleigh started the game at a high tempo with Darren Wheeler’s run and cross from the left being collected by the City keeper, Danny Naisbitt just ahead of Andy Forbes who was waiting in the centre.
Neil Midgley, Cambridge’s forward who did the damage at the City Ground a month ago, scoring twice in the 2-0 win when the same teams last met, was fouled by Steve West early on, earning the visitors their first chance of the game from a free kick in a good position. Ben Bowditch went for goal but the Eastleigh wall did its job and deflected the effort behind for a corner. From the right wing delivery, Lee Chaffey diverted the ball goalwards with a swift flick only to be denied by a superb instinctive, reaction save from James Pullen in the Eastleigh goal.
It was then Dodd’s side that had a chance to take the advantage inside the first ten minutes of the game when they had successive corner kicks. Craig Radcliffe, the culprit for conceding the first as he headed past his own goalkeeper but Darren Wheeler failed to beat the first man as he swung the ball in from the right. The second corner saw a short ball played to David Hughes who swept the ball to the back post to find Andy Forbes who did everything right but failed to trouble the keeper with his header.
Eastleigh continued to see a lot of the ball and showed signs of good football going forward. Andy Forbes weaved through the Cambridge defence on a good run to force a corner, the pressure continued for the Lilywhites with Tarkan Mustafa putting some excellent deliveries into the box but to no avail or end product.
A rare chance on goal from Cambridge saw Greg Lincoln slide a shot just wide of goal under pressure from the Eastleigh defence, as they looked to nick a goal on the counter attack.
Charlie Henry, the Cambridge left-winger, did extremely well to get past Steve Forbes midway through the half but met his match with Martin Thomas who won the ball back with sheer effort and commitment to clear the danger.
The game had many niggling moments with both sides in desperate need of a win, Cambridge on the back of three straight defeats and Eastleigh who haven’t won in the league since the beginning of November. Darren Wheeler and Craig Pope demonstrated this when the pair squared up with arms and fists thrown about. On this occasion the referee kept his cards to himself.
David Hughes and Steve Forbes conjured up a second chance for Andy Forbes soon after. Eastleigh’s top marksman met the ball with a firm header that left a comfortable save for Danny Naisbitt.
With 30 minutes played Cambridge had a half chance to take the lead when Charlie Henry got the better of Tarkan Mustafa going along on his way to go, firing wide.
Had the final ball been better for Eastleigh at the other end, Andy Forbes may well have given his side the advantage. This following an excellent flick on from Steve Forbes down the right for Wilson-Denis who fed it through the gap but slightly overhit it.
Eastleigh’s general approach play saw some of the best football they have played a long time, meanwhile their quality in front of goal summed up why they haven’t scored as many as perhaps merited. Andy Forbes cut inside and struck horrendously wide, the ball going out for a throw in and just a minute later the best chance so far fell to Steve Forbes.
It was a fantastic cross from Martin Thomas that saw the ball fly right across the six-yard box providing the perfect opportunity for Steve Forbes who somehow glanced his header wide of goal under little pressure.
As the half came to a close the Spitfires seemed more and more determined to find a goal but in truth despite the dominance in possession it didn’t seem likely to come. Karim El-Salahi, who had an exceptional game, knocked a good ball in for Andy Forbes but the header was nodded over. On the stroke of half time more positive play from Mustafa created another opportunity as he went past Charlie Henry with ease before pulling back for Steve Forbes. Forbes was pulled down just outside of the box and Steve West hit the free kick well but the effort was deflected behind on the stroke of half time.
The man of the first half by a long stretch was Martin Thomas who won the ball back time after time, breaking up the play to win possession for Eastleigh. There were many positives to take into the break but there was always going to be the question of will they be made to pay for failing to take one of their chances?
HALF TIME – Eastleigh 0-0 Cambridge City
Early in the second half, Carl Wilson-Denis made a great interception close to the right touchline and with Andy Forbes wide open in the centre, the new signing played the ball through to his strike partner. A disappointing touch from Forbes saw the opportunity slip away as it allowed the City defence a chance to recover.
The turning point in the game came on 55 minutes when Steve West was shown a straight red card. The tall centre half looked to be shielding off the ball but had an outstretched arm that caught Charlie Henry full in the face. Deliberate or not was hard to tell but the referee who was two yards away from the incident was adamant it was violent conduct. For sure, the arm went up from West but the Cambridge player went down as if he had been shot, looking for a foul and this proved to be the end of Steve’s game as Eastleigh went down to ten men.
From here it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Dodd’s side who now looked to have thrown away the best part of an hour’s good football. Following the referee brandishing a red card, Jack Smith was swiftly brought on for Andy Forbes as the home side looked to defend and try and hold out for a point.
An awful foul from behind on Darren Wheeler by Greg Lincoln led to a yellow card for the Cambridge player, and moments later David Hughes was fouled in a similar manner as he was taken straight out by a vicious tackle from Lewis Baillie. The referee baffled the crowd by showing no sign of a card and was rapidly losing his grip on the game.
Eastleigh, now playing with a lone striker found it hard to make something out of anything through no lack of trying, Carl Wilson-Denis battled his way through holding off several challenges before eventually losing the ball.
The inevitable happened in the 73rd minute. From the moment the Spitfires went down to ten men it was evident that they would be up against it and their bad fortune had turned for the worse, this confirmed by substitute Craig O’Connor’s strike. Greg Lincoln and Neil Midgley worked an opening down the right setting up the unchallenged former Weymouth forward, Craig O’Connor, who grabbed the chance with both hands smashing his volley past James Pullen to grab what proved to be the winning goal.
Having conceded, Eastleigh threw caution to the wind and looked to get men forward to somehow dig deep and find an equaliser. Jack Smith sent an excellent ball into the box from the left hand side where El-Salahi was denied by a good save before committing what was deemed a foul on the keeper.
Fifteen minutes from the end, Liam George – formerly of Luton Town made his debut for Eastleigh as Steve Forbes made way. Ben Bosley became the third substitute for Eastleigh as he replaced the hard working Wilson-Denis.
In the closing moments of the game, David Hughes shot wide as the home side again failed to make Danny Naisbitt work, before Midgley had a snapshot easily saved low down by Pullen.
This latest result leaving Eastleigh yet more work to be done to turn this season around. Of course the West incident played a part on the outcome but the fact is we rarely troubled the Cambridge keeper to make our possession count in what was an excellent first half performance.
FULL TIME – Eastleigh 0-1 Cambridge City
JAMIE MONTIGUE
SATURDAY 16th DECEMBER 2006
Conference South
Jason Dodd’s first home league game in charge this afternoon saw the visitors, Cambridge come out with a 1-0 victory despite the Spitfires playing some good football in the first forty-five. Despite all the pressure there was very little to show for it and the Lilywhite’s capitalised towards the end when substitute Craig O’Connor fired a 73rd minute winner on his debut.
With both Danny Smith and Andy Harris on the sidelines, the gap in central midfield meant a warm welcome back to Steve Forbes returning to the first team for the first time since his horrific injuries back in August against Fisher Athletic. Both Karim El-Salahi, centre half on loan from Woking, and Carl Wilson-Denis, a forward signed from Havant & Waterlooville, made their home debuts after starring in the draw against Bishops Stortford a week ago.
Eastleigh started the game at a high tempo with Darren Wheeler’s run and cross from the left being collected by the City keeper, Danny Naisbitt just ahead of Andy Forbes who was waiting in the centre.
Neil Midgley, Cambridge’s forward who did the damage at the City Ground a month ago, scoring twice in the 2-0 win when the same teams last met, was fouled by Steve West early on, earning the visitors their first chance of the game from a free kick in a good position. Ben Bowditch went for goal but the Eastleigh wall did its job and deflected the effort behind for a corner. From the right wing delivery, Lee Chaffey diverted the ball goalwards with a swift flick only to be denied by a superb instinctive, reaction save from James Pullen in the Eastleigh goal.
It was then Dodd’s side that had a chance to take the advantage inside the first ten minutes of the game when they had successive corner kicks. Craig Radcliffe, the culprit for conceding the first as he headed past his own goalkeeper but Darren Wheeler failed to beat the first man as he swung the ball in from the right. The second corner saw a short ball played to David Hughes who swept the ball to the back post to find Andy Forbes who did everything right but failed to trouble the keeper with his header.
Eastleigh continued to see a lot of the ball and showed signs of good football going forward. Andy Forbes weaved through the Cambridge defence on a good run to force a corner, the pressure continued for the Lilywhites with Tarkan Mustafa putting some excellent deliveries into the box but to no avail or end product.
A rare chance on goal from Cambridge saw Greg Lincoln slide a shot just wide of goal under pressure from the Eastleigh defence, as they looked to nick a goal on the counter attack.
Charlie Henry, the Cambridge left-winger, did extremely well to get past Steve Forbes midway through the half but met his match with Martin Thomas who won the ball back with sheer effort and commitment to clear the danger.
The game had many niggling moments with both sides in desperate need of a win, Cambridge on the back of three straight defeats and Eastleigh who haven’t won in the league since the beginning of November. Darren Wheeler and Craig Pope demonstrated this when the pair squared up with arms and fists thrown about. On this occasion the referee kept his cards to himself.
David Hughes and Steve Forbes conjured up a second chance for Andy Forbes soon after. Eastleigh’s top marksman met the ball with a firm header that left a comfortable save for Danny Naisbitt.
With 30 minutes played Cambridge had a half chance to take the lead when Charlie Henry got the better of Tarkan Mustafa going along on his way to go, firing wide.
Had the final ball been better for Eastleigh at the other end, Andy Forbes may well have given his side the advantage. This following an excellent flick on from Steve Forbes down the right for Wilson-Denis who fed it through the gap but slightly overhit it.
Eastleigh’s general approach play saw some of the best football they have played a long time, meanwhile their quality in front of goal summed up why they haven’t scored as many as perhaps merited. Andy Forbes cut inside and struck horrendously wide, the ball going out for a throw in and just a minute later the best chance so far fell to Steve Forbes.
It was a fantastic cross from Martin Thomas that saw the ball fly right across the six-yard box providing the perfect opportunity for Steve Forbes who somehow glanced his header wide of goal under little pressure.
As the half came to a close the Spitfires seemed more and more determined to find a goal but in truth despite the dominance in possession it didn’t seem likely to come. Karim El-Salahi, who had an exceptional game, knocked a good ball in for Andy Forbes but the header was nodded over. On the stroke of half time more positive play from Mustafa created another opportunity as he went past Charlie Henry with ease before pulling back for Steve Forbes. Forbes was pulled down just outside of the box and Steve West hit the free kick well but the effort was deflected behind on the stroke of half time.
The man of the first half by a long stretch was Martin Thomas who won the ball back time after time, breaking up the play to win possession for Eastleigh. There were many positives to take into the break but there was always going to be the question of will they be made to pay for failing to take one of their chances?
HALF TIME – Eastleigh 0-0 Cambridge City
Early in the second half, Carl Wilson-Denis made a great interception close to the right touchline and with Andy Forbes wide open in the centre, the new signing played the ball through to his strike partner. A disappointing touch from Forbes saw the opportunity slip away as it allowed the City defence a chance to recover.
The turning point in the game came on 55 minutes when Steve West was shown a straight red card. The tall centre half looked to be shielding off the ball but had an outstretched arm that caught Charlie Henry full in the face. Deliberate or not was hard to tell but the referee who was two yards away from the incident was adamant it was violent conduct. For sure, the arm went up from West but the Cambridge player went down as if he had been shot, looking for a foul and this proved to be the end of Steve’s game as Eastleigh went down to ten men.
From here it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Dodd’s side who now looked to have thrown away the best part of an hour’s good football. Following the referee brandishing a red card, Jack Smith was swiftly brought on for Andy Forbes as the home side looked to defend and try and hold out for a point.
An awful foul from behind on Darren Wheeler by Greg Lincoln led to a yellow card for the Cambridge player, and moments later David Hughes was fouled in a similar manner as he was taken straight out by a vicious tackle from Lewis Baillie. The referee baffled the crowd by showing no sign of a card and was rapidly losing his grip on the game.
Eastleigh, now playing with a lone striker found it hard to make something out of anything through no lack of trying, Carl Wilson-Denis battled his way through holding off several challenges before eventually losing the ball.
The inevitable happened in the 73rd minute. From the moment the Spitfires went down to ten men it was evident that they would be up against it and their bad fortune had turned for the worse, this confirmed by substitute Craig O’Connor’s strike. Greg Lincoln and Neil Midgley worked an opening down the right setting up the unchallenged former Weymouth forward, Craig O’Connor, who grabbed the chance with both hands smashing his volley past James Pullen to grab what proved to be the winning goal.
Having conceded, Eastleigh threw caution to the wind and looked to get men forward to somehow dig deep and find an equaliser. Jack Smith sent an excellent ball into the box from the left hand side where El-Salahi was denied by a good save before committing what was deemed a foul on the keeper.
Fifteen minutes from the end, Liam George – formerly of Luton Town made his debut for Eastleigh as Steve Forbes made way. Ben Bosley became the third substitute for Eastleigh as he replaced the hard working Wilson-Denis.
In the closing moments of the game, David Hughes shot wide as the home side again failed to make Danny Naisbitt work, before Midgley had a snapshot easily saved low down by Pullen.
This latest result leaving Eastleigh yet more work to be done to turn this season around. Of course the West incident played a part on the outcome but the fact is we rarely troubled the Cambridge keeper to make our possession count in what was an excellent first half performance.
FULL TIME – Eastleigh 0-1 Cambridge City
JAMIE MONTIGUE
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