Ryan goal continues run

Dorchester Town 0 Eastleigh 1

Match Report by Ray Murphy

With defender Rob Marshall having failed a late fitness test, Eastleigh manager David Hughes was forced to make one change to the side that had beaten Fisher Athletic so comprehensively on Saturday. Ian Oliver returned to the side in a left back role whilst Luke Byles switched to a central defensive position. Dorchester had their own problems with Jamie Cumming missing from the Dorchester side that had plated three days earlier and also listed ex. A F C Bournemouth defender Roy O’Brien amongst their other absentees.

Dorchester had the early part of the play and were unlucky in the third minute when a low drive from Charlie Henry was diverted over the bar by Jones Awuah. Play immediately switched to the opposite end where Eastleigh’s own wing ace Damian Scannell produced a right wing cross that was volleyed over by Warren Ryan.

Despite the promising start play settled down with defences on top, both sides having their wingman of Scannell and Henry doing the majority of the creative works.

With twenty eight minutes played, a searing drive from the edge of the box by Henry brought a finger tip save from James Pullen and four minutes later from a set piece, Jamie Gleeson firing over from a Dorchester free kick. Shortly before the interval another Dorchester free kick brought a chance for Elliott Bent but the striker miscued his shot from inside the six-yard box. With a minute of normal time left in the opening half, home goalkeeper Darren Bechet pulled off a tremendous stop to deny a Paul Sales header from a Scannell cross.

With the game into the second minute of first half stoppage time another Scannell cross from the right flank reached the far post where the running Ryan powered a header into the floor and up into the stanchion to give The Spitfires the lead.

Eastleigh almost extended their lead in the first minute of the second period. A good piece of play ended with Chris Piper playing the ball in for Scannell in a similar position from where he had netted twice on Saturday but this time could only fire over. At the opposite end Henry beat Danny Smith to the ball but only managed to screw his shot wide of Pullen's right hand post.

Chances were coming at both ends. Another Scannell run saw his strength force another opening but again his shot was high. Home captain Alex Browne arrived unmarked in the six yard area to get on the end of a John Docker free kick but failed to hit the target, whilst Matt Groves headed wide when well placed.

With nine minutes remaining another excellent stop from Bechet this time from Andy Forbes, meant Eastleigh had to be alert until, the final whistle. The home side did have the final chance; again with the game in stoppage time another Browne header was cleared off the Eastleigh goal line to maintain their fourth clean sheet from five games.