Burgess Hit For Six - Bennett Bags a Hattrick

Eastleigh 2nd XI 6-0 Burgess Hill Town Res.

Suburban Premier League

TEAM: Andy Wynn, Jon Horner, Ian Oliver, Niall Bryant, Tom Roberts (c), James Screen, Aiden Sainsbury, Adam Sheppard, Totti, Justin Bennett, Dani Rodrigues

SUBS: TJ McClory-Cuthbertson (on for Screen 58), Scott Waters (on for Sheppard 70), Zach Glasspool (on for Bryant 75). Unsed: Liam Winzar and Grant Porter

Match Report by Jamie Montigue

Boosted by several first team faces namely: Ian Oliver, Portuguese duo Totti and Dani Rodrigues, and Justin Bennett; Eastleigh's 2nd eleven put together a performance of the highest standard.

Justin Bennett netted a fine hattrick in a match that the Spitfires fully controlled. Dani Rodrigues, Aiden Sainsbury and Totti were the other goalscorers as Eastleigh hit their opponents for six.

This result coming just a week after their draw with league leaders AFC Wimbledon. With Burgess Hill sitting in fifth position going into this game, it came as a polite surprise to see ninth placed Eastleigh turn over their visitors this afternoon.The first team travelled up to Bishops Stortford for new manager Ian Baird's first game in charge without their away support due to the minibus keys being misplaced.

Obviously this came as a blow to the first team, however the hardcore fan base of the club bumped up the numbers at the Silverlake Stadium to cheer on the second team with plenty of songs and in excellent spirits (despite the minibus blunder!).

Forty-eight seconds had been played when the blistering pace of Totti on the right flank saw the former Southampton man link up with fellow Portuguese teammate Dani Rodrigues, who squandered an excellent chance from just six yards.

Aiden Sainsbury produced the very best out of Aaron Stenning in the Burgess Hill goal with a fine strike with his weaker left foot. Rodrigues played the ball forward to Sainsbury who needed no second invitation to run at goal before unleashing a great effort that looked destined for the top left hand corner, only to be denied by a fingertip save.

From the resulting corner, Justin Bennett glanced his header high over the cross bar.

The visitors had a couple of half chances on the counter attack before Eastleigh again took the upper hand.

Bennett was brought down right on the edge of the area to the right of goal moments later, but the free kick that was played short to Totti by James Screen - was cleared away.

Eastleigh then had a let off at the opposite end as Callum Saunders fired a guilt edge chance comfortably wide of goal.

Midway through the half, the excellent Rodrigues nutmegged his marker with a touch that oozed class. Unfortunately the shot that followed did not match the skill as the ball was blasted high and wide.

On twenty-seven minutes the Spitfires finally took the lead their play deserved. Jon Horner's through ball from right back saw JUSTIN BENNETT advance on the keeper and squeeze a brilliant finish between the legs of Stenning and into the net for 1-0.

It took just four minutes before the hosts doubled their advantage. Ian Oliver's cross from the left hand side was finished off with a superb downward header from DANI RODRIGUES to round off good approach play.

With over half an hour played, Eastleigh continued to threaten and could well have gone in at the break with a few more goals to their name. Totti cut in from the right flank neatly though his weak effort never really troubled the goalkeeper on this occasion.

Burgess Hill may well have pulled a goal back and would have done had Eastleigh's stopper, Andy Wynn not reacted as quickly as he did to a rebound off of the inside upright with three red shirts waiting to tap home.

Immediately, Eastleigh broke away with a swift attacking move; Screen bringing the ball forward before Sainsbury found Totti who perhaps should have done better.

Working the ball from right to left across the midfield Adam Sheppard teed up a short for Ian Oliver whose shot from range flew narrowly wide of goal with Eastleigh finishing the half strongly.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 2-0 Burgess Hill Town Res.

Looking to build on a very productive first 45 minutes, Rodrigues superbly chested down Ian Oliver's header before sweeping a volley over the cross bar. The goalscorer showing excellent control and skill with this effort without the ball touching the floor - unlucky.

Rodrigues had an even better opportunity eight minutes into the second half following a well crafted move. Screen took one look up before picking out Rodrigues who held the ball up and then flicked around the corner and into the path of his strike partner Bennett.

The fleet footed, pacy front man, managed to stay on his feet following a lunge from his marker, get to the byline and unselfishly square for Rodrigues. With the goal at his mercy the shot didn't trouble the keeper bringing to an end an intricate passing move from Eastleigh.

Both Bennett and Totti had shots deflected behind before the Spitfires made their first change. TJ McClory-Cuthbertson was introduced to the action for his first appearance in four games following the injury sustained in the BTC cup game back in September. James Screen the man making way.

On the hour mark, Totti had a glorious chance to make it 3-0 following a stupendous thirty yard, controlled pass with the outside of the boot from McClory-Cuthbertson. Delaying the shot, Totti fired harmlessly wide when the opportunity was screaming out for a first time hit.

Not that it mattered as the very next attack saw AIDEN SAINSBURY bury a first time volley from the edge of the area to increase the lead yet further. The former Bournemouth youngster latching on to Rodrigues' perfectly placed chipped through ball to net his third of the season.

Barely two minutes had passed before Eastleigh struck again. This goal in the 67th minute was arguably the pick of the bunch for the finish alone. TJ provided the assist and JUSTIN BENNETT did all the rest bringing the ball down beautifully before cooly beating the keeper with an unerring finish with the outside of his left peg.

Adam Sheppard was replaced on 70 minutes with Scott Waters slotting in at left midfield.

Bennett so nearly reached his hattrick with a free kick that brushed the side netting coming very close to picking out the top left hand corner.

Eastleigh's final substitution saw Zach Glasspool replace Niall Bryant. With the points clearly wrapped up, removing a centre back in favour of attacking options certainly did no harm and with a quarter of an hour remaining there was still time to set out an emphatic scoreline with two more goals.

Rather stupidly, Zach's first involvement in the game led to the in form striker picking up a needless yellow card for casually kicking the ball away.

Ten minutes from time, Andy Wynn did well to save at his near post to make amends for Totti's suicidal pass to the opposition in front of goal.

A long throw from Glasspool on the left hand side saw Bennett edge ever nearer to his third goal but his volley on the turn was deflected and comfortably saved.

Justin did not have to wait much longer for the goal to come. In the 82nd minute, TJ added another assist to his name in his cameo second half performance, with a clever reverse pass which saw JUSTIN BENNETT make no mistake from the edge of the area to beat the keeper and secure a memorable hattrick.

The Spitfires were still not quite finished!

Glasspool had a chip headered off the line to save further embarassment for Burgess Hill, before Rodrigues had an effort turned around the post from a corner moments later.

With two minutes to go, TOTTI netted his first ever goal in an Eastleigh shirt playing a smart one-two with Rodrigues. His shot took a wicked deflection and found the bottom right hand corner in bizarre fashion though there was to be no taking this away from Totti!

Despite this well and truly wrapping up the proceedings, the match ended on a sour note with the Portuguese winger experiencing a mixture of emotions in a matter of minutes having scored a goal one second and then suffering a suspected broken ankle from a disgraceful late challenge the next.

Full credit to Brian, Adie, Sam and their players for another well earned victory and impressive display. Here's hoping young Totti a speedy recovery.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 6-0 Burgess Hill Town Res.

Photos by Jozef Montigue