EFC Res. 2-1 Carshalton - Suburban League Cup

TEAM: Grant Porter, Lee O'Connell, Scott Gilham, Craig Cansdale, Nicky Cole, Liam George, Karim Hraiba, Toure Mamadouba, Steve Forbes (c), Martin Beck, Stuart Douglas.

SUBS: James Screen (on for Cansdale 60), Sayem Kabir (on for Beck 45), Brett Williams (on for Douglas, 58) - unused: Lewis Hunt, Macs Sampays.

MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE

It took Stuart Douglas just two minutes to find the back of the net on his return from injury, his first game back since April. This Suburban League Cup tie got off to a bang when new signing Liam George, who used to be a teammate of Douglas' at Luton, whipped in a perfect free kick following Martin Beck being chopped down on the very edge of the area. Douglas was unmarked at the back post and was left with the easiest of tappings thanks to a great delivery.

Steve Forbes, who was captaining the side, another big name Eastleigh player who has been missing long term, is slowly but surely getting back to his usual self. For sure, the pair still need plenty of match practice to get back to 100% fitness but it really was a joy to see them both back.

The visitors first attempt on goal came in moments after the opening goal of the game. Steve Forbes got caught out in possession losing the ball to Lance Banton-Brown who hit a speculative effort from 35 yards that bounced up awkardly causing Porter in the Eastleigh goal to spill the ball for a corner.

Craig Cansdale had to be on his guard to preserve the Spitfires lead when he cleared off the line following a good one-two from the Carshalton strike-force.

Eastleigh forced another free kick when Forbes put his head in where it hurts against a high boot winning a flick on to Karim Hraiba who has promptly brought to the floor with a late challenge. Martin Beck struck it well, but Douglas was caught offside.

A splendid attempt from Carshalton's best player, Luke Milner from the left touchline hit with phenomenal technique somehow came within an inch of Porter's top right hand corner as it swerved away at the last second.

Full back Simon Cooper also came very close with a fine header from Sean Rivers cross both chances coming in the space of a minute for the visitors.

Almost half an hour had been played when Eastleigh next had an attempt on goal. It came about from terrific determination and effort from Nicky Cole who put in four strong challenges, one after the other to win the ball back as it bobbled around in the midfield, before playing it through for Beck whose stinging shot from distance was well held by the keeper Anthony Hall. Hall, incidentally the Carshalton keeper went on to demonstrate what a fine keeper he is with some truly first class stops.

Scott Gilham floated the ball in to the box from the right that evaded everyone and turned out to be an accidental shot that had Hall back-pedalling before catching ahead of the goal line.

Just when Eastleigh were showing good signs, the visitors struck two minutes from the end of the first half with a well worked goal. A pin point cross from the left wing with the Spitfires defence out of position, was met with a first time finish that left Porter absolutely no chance as the striker had been given far too much time and space in front of goal.

HALF TIME - Eastleigh Res. 1-1 Carshalton

During the break, Sayem Kabir replaced Martin Beck with Liam George being pushed up front, and the substitute slotting in on the right of midfield.

A brief scuffle involving Reece Wilson and Eastleigh's Karim Hraiba, where the former's arms were clearly raised striking out at the Frenchman saw the referee keeping his cards to himself on this occasion, before Cansdale came to the rescue again to sweep another goal bound header away from danger.

Stuart Douglas who grabbed Eastleigh's early goal, came on 13 minutes into the second half as Brett Williams took to the field, to end what was a good run out where although short of match practice looked good on the ball and was finding some good positions.

On the hour, Cansdale, who has not long been back from injury, limped off with a knock to his shin forcing a third change with James Screen introduced to the action. This led to a mini-reshuffle with Steve Forbes moving to centre half, Hraiba reverting to central midfield to accomodate Screen's ability as a winger.

Carshalton very nearly took the lead, and would have done were it not for an unbelievable save from Grant Porter. A firm header from Barry Hooper was somehow kept out in style by the young keeper who flew across goal to tip over for a corner at full stretch.

Eastleigh's first real chance of the half came from an inviting cross into the box by Liam George that Forbes cushioned back in for Hraiba to fire a good header just wide of goal.
 

A minute later, Eastleigh were on the attack once more. Good play between Sayem Kabir and Brett Williams created an opening for Hraiba who let fly in typical fashion and was not far wide with the strike.

The pressure began to mount for Carshalton as the home side stepped up a gear, only to find an inspired Anthony Hall between the sticks who didn't look like being beaten in a hurry. A corner on the far side was met by a great header from Liam George only to be denied by a fine save from the keeper.

Hall, then made an even better save just a moment later as the next corner came in. This time Steve Forbes had plenty of time to knee the ball down and fire at goal with a powerful volley from point blank range and much to his disbelief, Hall was there again to keep his side in the game with a save right out of the top drawer.

The chances kept coming with George missing out as he scooped the ball comfortably over the bar after good approach play from Kabir and Williams once more. George who has had a good career in league football and most recently a stint in America playing for Atlanta Silverbacks, looked a decent player throughout but really should have done better with the opportunity presented to him. He more than made up for it with a tremendous back flick that was controlled and measured finding James Screen on the left wing, was worth the entrance fee alone!

Somehow, Eastleigh failed to convert a further golden ticket to a place in the next round when a delightful cross from Screen that had good pace to beat the defenders and find an unmarked Brett Williams. Williams snatched at the chance as the ball struck the tall centre forward before bouncing into the ground, up against the cross bar and finally being cleared to safety.

There was then a disputed back pass decision against Lee O'Connell that looked nothing of the sort. Fortunately the indirect free kick was wasted, as the shot flew straight over the cross bar.

As extra time loomed, the referee again tried to steal the show by brandishing a red card to Steve Forbes for nothing more than a fair challenge, with the big midfielder having every right to go for the ball. It was a second yellow card, but sickening for a player who hasn't played first team football since August having been through the trauma of a horrid aerial challenge along with all the aftermath of this incident.
This left Eastleigh with ten men as the final whistle went.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 1-1 Carshalton

In extra time, both sides had chances to win it. Hraiba had a free header that went over from a Liam George corner before an excellent pass from Nicky Cole found Williams in front of goal but as he tried to go on to his right foot he found that he had taken one touch too many and the chance was gone.

Next, it was Liam George who was left with the keeper to beat with the flag staying down despite this leading to a fury of disputes. George, who had a solid game, seemed to lack the composure needed and failed to slot it away.

Eastleigh's next move saw the home side take the advantage through a sublime finish from Brett Williams. George helped it on nicely into the path of Williams who cooly despatched it with a lovely dink from the edge of the area, this goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.

There was more drama in the second period of extra time with the referee levelling up the sides by sending off Carshalton's striker for foul and abusive language.

Eastleigh in the end deserved their win, as their superior quality shone through at the death to see them through to the next round of the cup.

AFTER EXTRA TIME - Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Carshalton