Reserves - Winning streak extended

TEAM: Luke Douglas, Ross Walliss, Lee O'Connell, Chris Collins (c), Tom Roberts, Ray Rogers, TJ McClory-Cuthbertson, Tom Mitchell, Nathan Lynch, Brett Williams, Zach Glasspool

SUBS: Chris Hall (on for Rogers 64), Joe Prince-Wright (on for Lynch 68), Andy Jacob (on for Mitchell 68)

MATCH REPORT BY JAMIE MONTIGUE

It's been a hard few days for the reserve team, coming to terms with the injuries to 16 year old Grant Porter, and defender Nicky Cole. Tuesday night's trip to Harefield ended in disaster when both youngsters sustained broken legs leading to the abandonment of the game, with the scores level (1-1).

So, if there was one way to wish the pair well it was to keep the winning run going with form that has seen Ian and Wayne's side go on a run of five straight victories.

Fielding four Portsmouth trialists, Tom Roberts, Ray Rogers, TJ McClory-Cuthbertson and Tom Mitchell, along with an encouraging welcome back from injury to Chris Collins, who skippered. Luke Douglas also came in for Porter between the sticks.

The game began slowly for Eastleigh, with just one chance of note inside the first ten minutes. Lee O'Connell's cross found Brett Williams in the centre, who was penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Douglas had to be alert to keep out an Ashford attempt from a long throw on the right.

End to end the game continued as Zach Glasspool came very close for the Spitfires, latching on to a perfectly chipped pass from Ross Walliss at right back. The in-form striker took the ball forward with purpose before lashing a left foot strike at goal. Dan Cox, the Ashford keeper doing very well to keep it out with his legs.

Before the next Eastleigh attack, they survived a brief scare when Matt Baxter struck a goal-bound volley at the back post, denied only by the heroics of Walliss sliding in at the right time to block and clear the danger.

TJ McClory-Cuthbertson, recently released by Portsmouth, featured in everything good about the home sides play and put in a dangerous cross on 18 minutes that was cut out well just ahead of Glasspool.

Panic struck for Eastleigh midway through the half when Douglas and Roberts got in each others way, displaying a lack of understanding. The Ashford forward pounced on the mistake but failed to take advantage firing a relatively easy chance wide of the mark.

Thankfully, the visitors didn't capitalise on the golden ticket to take the lead, allowing Eastleigh to break the deadlock on 34 minutes, a goal which changed the game putting the Spitfires in full control.

Glasspool played a key part, in his newly adopted role on the left of midfield, holding the ball up before exchanging passes with the overlapping full back, Lee O'Connell. The ball came across from O'Connell where BRETT WILLIAMS planted a crisp right foot volley from a tight angle, into the bottom corner.

Having, so many chances before this Ashford appeared to lose their way and faded out of the encounter whilst Eastleigh got into full swing with their confidence now on the up.

Just before the break, Glasspool again was posing a threat for his opposite number as he easily brushed past his marker before knocking the ball right across the face of goal. It only needed a touch but somehow everyone missed it.

Collins, who had been steady all half, looking good for his first game back, headed wide from Cuthbertson's cross.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh Res. 1-0 Ashford Town

Gaining the advantage at just the right time, Eastleigh came out in the second half upbeat and looking for a second. Sure enough they had the ball in the back of the net just moments into it when Nathan Lynch fired past the keeper only to be disappointed by an offside decision.

An hour had been played, and still the home side were on top. Brett Williams coming close with a good run that ended with Cox coming out off his line well to parry with his legs. Ray Rogers followed up but shot hopelessly high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

Incidentally, Chris Hall was promptly introduced to the action to replace Rogers just moments later.

With 22 minutes gone in the second half, Eastleigh extended their advantage with a second goal. Cuthbertson won a free kick on the right hand side, 30 yards from goal with both himself, and Glasspool fancying their chances standing over the ball. It was the former, TJ MCCLORY-CUTHBERTSON, who struck it, and strike it he did with perfection. Swinging the ball round the wall with the outside of his boot, before going in off the post with the keeper left standing.

The points now not going anywhere else, with the two goal cushion secure and Ashford rarely threatening, Eastleigh used their remaining substitutions with Joe Prince-Wright and Andy Jacob coming on for Nathan Lynch and Tom Mitchell.

Two of Eastleigh's best performers on the day, Lee O'Connell and Cuthbertson, the goalscorer, both linked up with another promising move that saw the highly impressive former Portsmouth youngster drill the ball into the sidenetting.

Glasspool should have kept his scoring run going when he was presented with a glorious chance in front of goal. Under no real pressure, the Eastleigh forward hit a sloppy first time attempt wide, when a second touch may have proved to be more rewarding.

Twelve minutes from time the points were well and truly wrapped up when BRETT WILLIAMS grabbed his second goal of the day. Williams' original attempt was thwarted at first, before Glasspool picked up the pieces to hit the post with a good strike. Like all good strikers Williams was on hand to follow the shot in and chip past the keeper from close range.

Ashford seemed determined to get a goal at the very least from the game as they stepped up the pressure with time running out. Douglas had to be on his guard to prevent James Hutchinson's close range piledriver at bay with an excellent diving save.

The pressure paid off two minutes from time when a well worked passing move between Jon Coleman and Martin Jackson saw Chris Collins slip in the penalty area and in doing so concede a penalty for catching the player but not the ball. There was no hesitation or dispute for that matter, however Luke Douglas guessed the right way to stop Scott Harris' spotkick.

Just when Eastleigh had breathed a sigh of relief, that their clean sheet may still be in tact, the assistant referee spotted an infringment and the penalty was retaken. Harris kept his bottle and made no mistake from 12 yards the second time of asking to provide the Middlesex side no more than a consolation.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 3-1 Ashford Town