Narrow victory over Hempstead

TEAM: Grant Porter, Craig Richards, Liam Winzar, Nicky Cole, Scott Gilham (c), Andy Jacob, Joe Prince-Wright, Chris Hall, Macs Sampays, Brett Williams, Obi Nene

SUBS: Zach Glasspool (on for Nene 40), Lewis Hunt (on for Prince-Wright 79), Sam Skinner (on for Jacob 75)

MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE

The last time these two sides met was back in November in the league cup, where Eastleigh cruised to a 7-1 victory. This time, it wasn't quite so emphatic and in fact they had to come from behind to steal a narrow victory.

With games coming thick and fast for the first team it has been decided that the pitch at the Silverlake Stadium needs to be protected and this will be done by the reserves playing their home games at BAT's ground in Totton.

Eastleigh had numerous chances early on with but just couldn't finish. Inside the first minute of the game Liam Winzar's free kick was met by a weak effort from Williams at the far post.

Three minutes later they had struck the woodwork not once but twice in a matter of seconds. Andy Jacob brought down Craig Richards free kick and with great technique rattled the crossbar. Following in his own shot, the Eastleigh winger's header came back of the bar for a second time. Hempstead escaped as Jacob pounced on the rebound again but had his shot deflected behind for a corner.

Despite these chances and many more after, the game turned on its head in the 21st minute when the visitors were gifted with a penalty. The Hemel Hempstead number 9 used good strength to get into the area but was brought down by a clumsy foul from Craig Richards. The penalty was despatched low to Porter's left as Hempstead scored from their very first attack in the game.

Up until this moment Eastleigh were on top and could have been two or three goals up but were punished for not taking these.

The Spitfires briefly went down to ten men when Obi Nene couldn't continue after picking up a knock. Zach Glasspool replaced him up front following his return from Winchester City.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh Res. 0-1 Hemel Hempstead Res.

Glasspool wasted little time in making his mark on the game with a cracking equaliser. Joe Prince-Wright pinched the ball in a good area to create the goal, and ZACH GLASSPOOL did all the rest providing a quality finish that nestled in the top left hand corner.

Things nearly got a whole lot better as the skipper Scott Gilham put the ball back in the box from when a right wing corner was half cleared. Glasspool diverted the ball with a glancing, looping header that had the goalkeeper back-pedalling as it flew narrowly behind.

With Eastleigh getting the equaliser so early in the half they were able to push on and stamp their authority on the game once more.

The pressure was mounting for Hempstead, and really it was just a matter of when the winner from Eastleigh would come. Sampays fired over with a good strike and then Williams' sidefoot was spilled and cleared shortly after.

With time running out the comeback was complete when CRAIG RICHARDS poked the ball post the keeper casually to wrap up the win.

The match ended on a sour note with poor youngster Sam Skinner, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, landed awkwardly under a challenge and it is thought that he injured ligaments in his ankle. The nasty incident left Skinner in need of hefty treatment before the ambulance arrived.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Hemel Hempstead Res.