Five Star Eastleigh Make History!

EASTLEIGH v CLEVEDON TOWN

SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER 2007
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

Eastleigh turned in a performance of the highest standard to rewrite history by reaching the fourth qualifying stage of the FA Cup for the first time ever.

Following the midweek cup upset to Dorchester Town in the Setanta Shield, Ian Baird made three changes to the starting line up that lost 3-2 having been 2-0 ahead after 10 minutes.

With the unsuccessful Chris Tardif moving on after just one game between the sticks for the Spitfires, James Pullen came back in to the side. Meanwhile, player-assistant manager David Hughes, one of the three goalscorers in the Hamworthy tie that helped to secure our place in today’s 3rd Qualifying round, returned along with Chris Piper who adopted a left back role. Both Anthony Riviere and Rob Marshall dropped to the bench.

The warning signs were out for BGB Premier side Clevedon in the early stages of the game and indeed throughout the match. Matt Hann caused a problem or two as he ran the full length of the pitch following a quick throw from Pullen to win a free kick up by the corner flag on the far side.

Andy Harris helped ensure the Spitfires got the early breakthrough with a cross from the right hand side that struck the hands of Scott Hendy who conceded a penalty kick.

Last weekend, the usually highly-reliable ANDY FORBES failed to score a penalty at Bishops Stortford (you don’t see those words in the same sentence too often!). Forbes made absolutely no mistake from the spot today however, as he fired Eastleigh into a 1-0 lead striking coolly and powerfully into the bottom left hand corner.

A bare three minutes had passed when ANDY FORBES struck again. The skipper Andy Harris was influential in this goal too as he pumped a hopeful ball forward from the halfway line. Forbes guided the ball towards goal with a glancing header from the edge of the area, which at first appeared to be heading wide. Danny Greaves in the Clevedon goal was left standing assuming the very same thing but was deceived by the tremendous spin on the header that brought the ball back in towards the left upright, going in off the post.

Eastleigh were now in full swing putting on a wonderful display for home fans on what was Ian Baird’s first game in charge at the Silverlake Stadium.

Virtually camped in Clevedon’s half - such was the dominance from the hosts, the attacking moves were a joy to watch.

Were it not for a timely intervention from Josh Brigham the Spitfires would surely have increased their lead further. Paul Sales flicked the ball on with a header into the path of Forbes whose lovely touch around his marker came so close to finding Scannell on the overlap.

By a long stretch, Damian Scannell was the star of the show for Eastleigh. It was arguably his best performance since his summer move from Fisher Athletic.

An unbelievable run from Scannell saw the wing wizard beat man after man from the halfway line and just kept going right into the penalty area, lacking the finish only on this occasion.

There was no end to the pressure or the constant threat of Scannell for Clevedon. Scannell’s cross from the right flank was flapped at by Greaves falling straight to the feet of Forbes. The goalscorer decided to take a touch and square for Sales who should have done better from six yards.

The truly unstoppable Scannell, went on another run, bringing the ball forward and shooting inches wide of the near post.

In the very next attack on 29 minutes, DAMIAN SCANNELL finally got a deserved goal to his name. Forbes linked up well with the winger, who promptly beat Hendy effortlessly and left another opponent standing before applying a lovely finish through the legs of the keeper.

Luke Byles picked up a yellow card for a foul on Steve Cook to present the visitors with a chance on goal. Kris Leek stepped up to strike the free kick from 25 yards but failed to trouble Pullen, who saved comfortably.

Two minutes remained in the first half when that man Scannell turned on the style once more. Cutting in from the left, twisting here and there to lose his man, Scannell got to the byline before pulling back into the centre for ANDY FORBES. The hardwork and brilliance of Scannell providing the assist, left Andy with the simplest of finishes to complete a first half hat trick.

This goal bringing to a close a highly productive forty-five minutes of football from Ian Baird and his men.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 4-0 Clevedon Town

Eastleigh were just as rampant in the half that followed.

Immediately they found themselves on the attack as Scannell nutmegged the left back and unselfishly played the ball to his left whilst having the shirt pulled off his back.

Andy Forbes cleverly left the ball for Matt Hann with a dummy, but the former St. Albans midfielder drilled across goal and wide.

A rare error a minute later saw Mike Symons rob Karim El-Salahi of possession in front of goal. Symons found himself one on one inside the danger area and with an excellent opportunity to score, but the unprotected James Pullen was not to be beaten as he pulled off a top class save to keep his clean sheet in tact.

Sadly for Clevedon this was the closest they were to come in an otherwise one sided encounter, full of one-way traffic.

Ten minutes after the restart, Anthony Riviere replaced Jamie Brown in the centre of midfield.

Matt Hann latched on to an extravagant bicycle kick from Paul Sales soon after, but following a delightful first touch to bring the ball down with his chest, could not keep control and Greaves came in to sweep up after a heavy touch to avert the danger.

A little over the hour mark, DAMIAN SCANNELL pressurised a defender into losing the ball inside his own 18-yard box. Having won possession so well with sheer determination and strength, Scannell then had the composure to take a couple of touches to advance on goal and curl in his second and Eastleigh’s fifth of the afternoon.

Luke Byles made way for Rob Marshall in the 63rd minute.

Second half sub, Anthony Riviere combined with Harris down the right but was brought down under a heavy challenge. Chris Piper went for goal from the resulting free kick, though his effort deflected off the wall and rolled safely to the keeper.

Eastleigh used their third and final substitution with Danny Smith coming on for David Hughes, who left to a great ovation from the crowd and deservedly so.

Scannell continued to torment Clevedon and worked an opening for his former Fisher colleague Riviere on 70 minutes. A smart reaction save from Greaves was enough to thwart the flying volley from the Riviere.

Ending the game just as strongly as it had begun, the Spitfires continued to deliver the goods with pleasing short passing movements.

An indirect free kick in Eastleigh’s favour saw Riviere roll the ball to Scannell, who of course was just one away from matching Forbes’ hat trick, whose shot was charged down.

A minute later, Damian came a little closer. This time he won possession in the middle of the park chasing back, before bringing the ball forward and hitting a speculative effort from distance that deserved so much more.

Piper hit a shot across goal and wide, late in the game as Eastleigh comfortably saw out the remainder to seal their place in the next round of the competition.

A terrific performance such as this can only give hope and optimism for the future as the club begins a new chapter under Ian Baird.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 5-0 Clevedon Town

JAMIE MONTIGUE