Spitfires soar to resounding victory

EASTLEIGH v FISHER ATHLETIC
SATURDAY 25th AUGUST 2007

Blue Square South

With both teams knowing each other fairly well, (Eastleigh's squad containing four former Fisher players); add to this the decent opening to the new campaign that either side have made – it was most definitely an eagerly anticipated encounter.

The Spitfires on the back of a remarkable 2-0 victory away from home to Braintree Town last weekend, today welcomed two new signings into the fold with fans favourite Paul Sales returning to the club just this week from neighbours Salisbury City, along with defender Luke Byles who made his home debut.

As expected, after such a dominant display a week prior to this game, it was pretty much an unchanged side with the exception of Sales coming in for the injured Steve Watts.

In search of a repeat performance from the same fixture last year, which saw Eastleigh run out comfortable 4-0 victors over the Fish en route to Blue Square survival; Eastleigh came up against an unbeaten Fisher Athletic side, who before this game sat proudly at the top of the table.

Bank holiday weekend traffic caused a fifteen minute delay to the kick off as the visitors made their way down the M27. The wait was more than worth it, that is if you are an Eastleigh fan!

The game itself saw Eastleigh soar past their opponents with an immaculate, flawless performance to knock aside their London opponents.

Right from the off, Fisher had their backs to the wall as Eastleigh piled on the pressure. In the sixth minute an early corner appeared to strike the arm of Nicholas Plumain, though the referee wasn't interested in the appeals.

Warren Ryan was played through by Chris Piper inside the opening ten minutes as the Spitfires fired their way to a first attempt on goal. Ryan latched on to the excellent pass with a surging run before his low drive was well saved by goalkeeper Simon Overland.

Fisher's Jeff Goulding had a header sail wide of the mark shortly after, however for the next quarter of an hour it was all Eastleigh, as the hosts continued their bright start threatening to open the scoring and posing the most danger.

Overland was called into action in the thirteenth minute to keep out Andy Forbes' header from a great leap to meet Piper's right wing free kick, clawing the ball round the post.

A minute later Forbes came even closer with a further header, this time a deflection saw the effort hit the side netting as the Spitfires upped the pressure and won a third consecutive corner kick.

New boy Luke Byles, who already has shown his ability with a solid home debut this afternoon, timed his run to perfection in a crowded penalty area to get across his man expertly and glance a fine header towards goal only for Overland to get across and deny the former Havant & Waterlooville defender.

In five solid minutes of Eastleigh dominance, the Fisher goalkeeper very nearly made things worse for the visitors with a poor delivery that went a mere 10 yards and straight to the feet of Warren Ryan. Ryan, perhaps a little surprised to have received the ball in such manner in the first place; found himself in the clear but let the opportunity slip with a heavy first touch with players waiting in the centre.

Fisher found themselves with a brief respite; and relieved to have come out of these attacks unscathed, momentarily found themselves on the front foot albeit for a matter of minutes but failed to make the most of their several corners.

Then came the defining moment of the half. Eastleigh taking a thoroughly well earnt lead through, you guessed it - PAUL SALES; it could have been scripted!

A perfect way to mark his return, the Spitfires legend found the back of the net in the 31st minute as the excellent Danny Smith looped a dangerous cross into the Fisher penalty area and behind their defence. Three Eastleigh players were making their way back from an offside position as the ball came in, but Warren Ryan stepped up to the fore from a slightly deeper position on the left, escaping the attentions of his marker.

Ryan in acres of space made the pull back for Sales who nestled his low shot in the bottom right hand corner to stamp his name on to the score sheet at the first opportunity. Simply typical of the man who could well be set for a fifth successive promotion!

A brief reaction from Fisher over in the space of a minute, Eastleigh again took the front foot. A lovely ball down the line from the goalscorer found Damian Scannell down the right hand side. Getting to the byline, Scannell cut inside, beat one man then a second with a jink and skill before pulling the trigger with his left foot. Overland had to change direction and did well to keep the effort out.

The half coming to a close, Gavin Tomlin came the closest Fisher had come to a goal all day with a speculative effort from distance. It was a good hit from the youngster but failed to trouble James Pullen.

Sales had a header land the wrong side of the net from a Piper delivery on the stroke of half time as Eastleigh found themselves on track at the half way stage.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 1-0 Fisher Athletic

Having gone in at half time a goal up, Eastleigh looked to shut up shop defensively whilst looking for that crucial second goal.

Turning into a physical battle, a test of character also, Eastleigh soon found themselves back in dominant mode once more.

Intricate passing down the right involving Piper, Smith, and Scannell was a delight to watch as they forced an early corner that eventually came to nothing but again showed ominous signs of the home side furthering their lead.

Meanwhile the defence were solid from right to left with Danny Smith displaying his versatility with another solid performance as full back, Rob Marshall and Andy Harris never looked like being beaten in the centre and at left back Luke Byles showed all of his credentials with a fine display.

A full credit to the trio David Hughes, Paul Doswell and Head Coach Phil Handford for the organisation throughout the entire Eastleigh side.

On the hour mark, a powerful run from Scannell saw the former Fisher man pull the ball back for Byles to sweep into the box with a high floated cross for Riviere at the back post. One touch found Chris Piper lurking on the edge of the area who found the back of the net with a volley but it was in vain as the flag had already gone up against Riviere.

Three minutes later, Eastleigh set up a very exciting finale to the game, in particular for home fans, grabbing the most important goal of the afternoon to put daylight between themselves and Fisher.

Route one style, James Pullen's long kick up the park was helped on by Andy Forbes to DAMIAN SCANNELL. Against his old club, Scannell chested the ball down, steadied himself before executing a perfectly drilled, crisp shot that whistled past the keeper before nestling comfortably in the back of the net from the edge of the area. A great goal, one which sparked an eruption of atmosphere in all four quarters of the Silverlake Stadium – with white shirts jumping for joy.

Ian Oliver replaced Warren Ryan on 68 minutes and almost ten minutes later, to a great reception Paul Sales made way for Ellis Green, the former Salisbury City forward knowing full well that he had more than played his part in the storming win.

Putting the game beyond all doubt, DAMIAN SCANNELL ensured it was game, set and match with a blistering finish, his second of the match, seven minutes from time.

Scannell completing the rout against his former club to rub salt into Fisher's wounds, fired home an absolute thunderbolt from 20 yards to the right of goal – one to remember for a long, long time.

On a hattrick, 'Damo' may well have made things even better with a couple of long ranged efforts in the closing stages. Not that it could get much sweeter for Eastleigh who at present who were in ecstasy at this stage as it was!

Another game, another superb performance, three more well earnt points and three clean sheets from four games.

Eastleigh's incredible opening month comes to an end this Tuesday where they take on Dorchester Town.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 3-0 Fisher Athletic

JAMIE MONTIGUE