Scoreless Draw - Reserves
Wednesday 21st February - Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Basingstoke Res.
LINE UP: Grant Porter, Craig Richards, Lee O'Connell, Martin Thomas, Rob Marshall (c), Scott Gilham, Liam Winzar, Andy Harris, Carl Wilson-Denis, Obi Nene, Liam Green.
SUBS: Chris Hall (on for Thomas 59), Andy Jacobs, Joe Prince-Wright (on for Harris 68), Nathan Lynch, Ben Bosley (on for Nene 68)
MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE
On the back of two straight wins, Eastleigh kept their unbeaten run going with a goalless draw at the hands of Basingstoke Reserves. Both sides gave run outs to first team players that have either not been in the side or are coming back from injury.
Andy Harris was back in action for the first time since early November after a knee injury and operation, whilst Martin Thomas got through the best part of an hour appearing for the first time since the awful hand injury sustained incidentally at Basingstoke on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile Carl Wilson-Denis has not seen too much action for the first team since Steve Watts has come in and so was given a chance last night alongwith Rob Marshall who has similarly struggled to shrug off competition from Karim El-Salahi in the centre of defence.
Liam Green, another player that has found it hard to break into the first team in what is a very competitive squad, was also involved.
Former Southampton Under 18's Youth Cup Finalist, Craig Richards, played a full 90 minutes on his comeback trail following a horrific injury for Saints that has seen him sidelined since the end of the 2005/06 season with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. Eastleigh have taken the talented young defender on trial.
Early pressure from the visitors was seen off with good defending from Marshall who put in an inch perfect last ditch challenge to concede a corner. Scott Gilham headed the kick behind for a second corner as Eastleigh eventually saw off the danger.
Five minutes had been played when Richards linked up with Liam Winzar down the right hand side before putting in a dangerous low cross that was cut out at the near post and only just wide of goal as the Spitfires earned their first corner.
The Basingstoke centre forward, Davis Tarpay was lively all night causing numerous problems to the defence and nearly found a way through early in the game as he skipped past Scott Gilham. The shot came in from the edge of the box but Grant Porter in the Eastleigh goal more than matched with an equally good save diving low to his right.
Were it not for the brilliance of Porter, Eastleigh could well have fallen behind on 22 minutes. Gilham closed down well to deflect a shot from Matthew Stamp behind and from the resulting corner, the Eastleigh stopper pulled off a splendid stop to keep out an effort from Danny Brown.
Basingstoke continued to take the game to Eastleigh in a good spell of ten or so minutes. Following a foul by Richards, Luke Townsend's free kick took the slightest of touches going out for yet another 'Stoke corner. Dean Lodge, former Queens Park Rangers youngster, whipped the ball in with great pace into a perfect position, but the delivery was almost too good as everyone missed it and it went out for a goal kick.
When Eastleigh did get a shot on target, it came as no surprise that it was too good to be true as the referee blew up for an alleged hand ball against Carl Wilson-Denis. The chance came from an excellent throw on the right hand side from Craig Richards, that the former Havant forward brought down before hitting well on the turn - only to find he had been penalised.
It was not to be Wilson-Denis' night. The referee appeared to have something against him, blowing up for a foul everytime he went near the ball and thus it was when Martin Thomas curled a free kick into the box, one that 'Tommo' won himself. As the ball came in, Wilson-Denis only so much as held off a defender and a free kick was given to Basingstoke!
The Spitfires' best chance of the half came just after 30 minutes of play. A good attack from Eastleigh, one with pace and purpose looked to reap the rewards as Andy Harris was brought down in the area. It was hard to tell if the defender took any of the ball or not, but as play went on it didn't look like it would matter as Liam Winzar continued with a good ball to the back post. Wilson-Denis was the target, but as he chested down, he slipped and hooked the ball harmlessly over the cross bar.
Two more saves from Porter, who kept his place in the team following recent displays ahead of the fit again Luke Douglas, ensured neither side had the advantage going in at the break. Firstly, Andy Harris was caught in possession with a poor pass that gifted Davis Tarpay a strike at goal. Porter spilled the stinging effort at first attempt but quickly gathered to pull off a good save.
Tarpay was put through on goal once more, and not for the first time Grant Porter was more than a match for the lively striker as he sprinted off his line making a good sliding challenge to clear the danger.
The last chance in the half saw Luke Townsend pinch the ball from Liam Winzar before starting a run from inside his own half. Townsend got past Marshall but the shot was poor and it stayed level in a half that Basingstoke in the main, controlled.
HALF TIME - Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Basingstoke Res.
After a largely disappointing first half from Eastleigh, it was they who came out quickest in the second half. Martin Thomas fed the ball through to Obi Nene, scorer of three goals in two games of late, who helped it on nicely into the path of Liam Winzar who took the ball a touch too wide perhaps and shot off balance.
It didn't take long for the game to die down, as the encounter became frustrating for both sides with many passes go astray and no clear cut opportunites looking imminent.
Basingstoke had the ball in the back of the net, however the deadlock remained firmly in tact as Matthew Stamp's finish was ruled out for offside. The heroics of Porter and Richards to deny firstly Tarpay who looked to chip the advancing keeper, who, got something on it to keep it out only to fall into the path of Dean Lodge. It looked a certain goal but somehow Craig Richards made a fantastic block on the line. Stamp followed in but the referee's assistant rose his flag instantly to save Eastleigh's blushes.
Chris Hall replaced Martin Thomas on the hour mark, the latter doing well on his comeback but still a little short of match practice.
A positive run from Richards saw the ball played into Obi Nene who turned sharply but striking straight against his marker, just about summing up the night for Eastleigh.
Six minutes later, Nene made an incredible run on the counter attack that started from Porter punching a Basingstoke corner clear. Obi just kept running with incredible energy managing to get a shot in that flew inches wide of the far post, but deserved a better outcome for the effort.
Eastleigh used their remaining two substitutions as Joe Prince-Wright, formerly of Salisbury City, and Ben Bosley replaced Andy Harris and Obi Nene.
The game suddenly came alive and was a lot more open, but it still lacked a goal one that would have killed the game off no doubt.
Porter continued to thwart Basingstoke with two good saves, one after the other. Matthew Stamp's header was kept out by the legs of Porter but the next save was even better. Tarpay followed up with a powerful drive that looked destined for the back of the net, but Porter had other ideas and got a fingertip on it, that sent the ball onto the cross bar and out for a corner.
The final action of the game, on any other day, probably would have been a goal but the match for some reason always looked like ending goalless despite both sides having chances in an exciting game. The substitute Ben Bosley did what every good striker does by charging down the keeper and got lucky as the ball was hit straight at his middrift sitting up nicely for a volley. It was on Bosley's weaker side though as he hooked the ball towards an empty net with his left foot but squandered the opportunity, bringing the match to a close.
FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Basingstoke Res.
LINE UP: Grant Porter, Craig Richards, Lee O'Connell, Martin Thomas, Rob Marshall (c), Scott Gilham, Liam Winzar, Andy Harris, Carl Wilson-Denis, Obi Nene, Liam Green.
SUBS: Chris Hall (on for Thomas 59), Andy Jacobs, Joe Prince-Wright (on for Harris 68), Nathan Lynch, Ben Bosley (on for Nene 68)
MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE
On the back of two straight wins, Eastleigh kept their unbeaten run going with a goalless draw at the hands of Basingstoke Reserves. Both sides gave run outs to first team players that have either not been in the side or are coming back from injury.
Andy Harris was back in action for the first time since early November after a knee injury and operation, whilst Martin Thomas got through the best part of an hour appearing for the first time since the awful hand injury sustained incidentally at Basingstoke on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile Carl Wilson-Denis has not seen too much action for the first team since Steve Watts has come in and so was given a chance last night alongwith Rob Marshall who has similarly struggled to shrug off competition from Karim El-Salahi in the centre of defence.
Liam Green, another player that has found it hard to break into the first team in what is a very competitive squad, was also involved.
Former Southampton Under 18's Youth Cup Finalist, Craig Richards, played a full 90 minutes on his comeback trail following a horrific injury for Saints that has seen him sidelined since the end of the 2005/06 season with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. Eastleigh have taken the talented young defender on trial.
Early pressure from the visitors was seen off with good defending from Marshall who put in an inch perfect last ditch challenge to concede a corner. Scott Gilham headed the kick behind for a second corner as Eastleigh eventually saw off the danger.
Five minutes had been played when Richards linked up with Liam Winzar down the right hand side before putting in a dangerous low cross that was cut out at the near post and only just wide of goal as the Spitfires earned their first corner.
The Basingstoke centre forward, Davis Tarpay was lively all night causing numerous problems to the defence and nearly found a way through early in the game as he skipped past Scott Gilham. The shot came in from the edge of the box but Grant Porter in the Eastleigh goal more than matched with an equally good save diving low to his right.
Were it not for the brilliance of Porter, Eastleigh could well have fallen behind on 22 minutes. Gilham closed down well to deflect a shot from Matthew Stamp behind and from the resulting corner, the Eastleigh stopper pulled off a splendid stop to keep out an effort from Danny Brown.
Basingstoke continued to take the game to Eastleigh in a good spell of ten or so minutes. Following a foul by Richards, Luke Townsend's free kick took the slightest of touches going out for yet another 'Stoke corner. Dean Lodge, former Queens Park Rangers youngster, whipped the ball in with great pace into a perfect position, but the delivery was almost too good as everyone missed it and it went out for a goal kick.
When Eastleigh did get a shot on target, it came as no surprise that it was too good to be true as the referee blew up for an alleged hand ball against Carl Wilson-Denis. The chance came from an excellent throw on the right hand side from Craig Richards, that the former Havant forward brought down before hitting well on the turn - only to find he had been penalised.
It was not to be Wilson-Denis' night. The referee appeared to have something against him, blowing up for a foul everytime he went near the ball and thus it was when Martin Thomas curled a free kick into the box, one that 'Tommo' won himself. As the ball came in, Wilson-Denis only so much as held off a defender and a free kick was given to Basingstoke!
The Spitfires' best chance of the half came just after 30 minutes of play. A good attack from Eastleigh, one with pace and purpose looked to reap the rewards as Andy Harris was brought down in the area. It was hard to tell if the defender took any of the ball or not, but as play went on it didn't look like it would matter as Liam Winzar continued with a good ball to the back post. Wilson-Denis was the target, but as he chested down, he slipped and hooked the ball harmlessly over the cross bar.
Two more saves from Porter, who kept his place in the team following recent displays ahead of the fit again Luke Douglas, ensured neither side had the advantage going in at the break. Firstly, Andy Harris was caught in possession with a poor pass that gifted Davis Tarpay a strike at goal. Porter spilled the stinging effort at first attempt but quickly gathered to pull off a good save.
Tarpay was put through on goal once more, and not for the first time Grant Porter was more than a match for the lively striker as he sprinted off his line making a good sliding challenge to clear the danger.
The last chance in the half saw Luke Townsend pinch the ball from Liam Winzar before starting a run from inside his own half. Townsend got past Marshall but the shot was poor and it stayed level in a half that Basingstoke in the main, controlled.
HALF TIME - Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Basingstoke Res.
After a largely disappointing first half from Eastleigh, it was they who came out quickest in the second half. Martin Thomas fed the ball through to Obi Nene, scorer of three goals in two games of late, who helped it on nicely into the path of Liam Winzar who took the ball a touch too wide perhaps and shot off balance.
It didn't take long for the game to die down, as the encounter became frustrating for both sides with many passes go astray and no clear cut opportunites looking imminent.
Basingstoke had the ball in the back of the net, however the deadlock remained firmly in tact as Matthew Stamp's finish was ruled out for offside. The heroics of Porter and Richards to deny firstly Tarpay who looked to chip the advancing keeper, who, got something on it to keep it out only to fall into the path of Dean Lodge. It looked a certain goal but somehow Craig Richards made a fantastic block on the line. Stamp followed in but the referee's assistant rose his flag instantly to save Eastleigh's blushes.
Chris Hall replaced Martin Thomas on the hour mark, the latter doing well on his comeback but still a little short of match practice.
A positive run from Richards saw the ball played into Obi Nene who turned sharply but striking straight against his marker, just about summing up the night for Eastleigh.
Six minutes later, Nene made an incredible run on the counter attack that started from Porter punching a Basingstoke corner clear. Obi just kept running with incredible energy managing to get a shot in that flew inches wide of the far post, but deserved a better outcome for the effort.
Eastleigh used their remaining two substitutions as Joe Prince-Wright, formerly of Salisbury City, and Ben Bosley replaced Andy Harris and Obi Nene.
The game suddenly came alive and was a lot more open, but it still lacked a goal one that would have killed the game off no doubt.
Porter continued to thwart Basingstoke with two good saves, one after the other. Matthew Stamp's header was kept out by the legs of Porter but the next save was even better. Tarpay followed up with a powerful drive that looked destined for the back of the net, but Porter had other ideas and got a fingertip on it, that sent the ball onto the cross bar and out for a corner.
The final action of the game, on any other day, probably would have been a goal but the match for some reason always looked like ending goalless despite both sides having chances in an exciting game. The substitute Ben Bosley did what every good striker does by charging down the keeper and got lucky as the ball was hit straight at his middrift sitting up nicely for a volley. It was on Bosley's weaker side though as he hooked the ball towards an empty net with his left foot but squandered the opportunity, bringing the match to a close.
FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 0-0 Basingstoke Res.
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