Eastleigh seal important away win

NEWPORT COUNTY 1-2 EASTLEIGH



SATURDAY 22nd MARCH 2008
Blue Square South

By Ray Murphy

Another excellent away Spitfires' performance brought a deserved three points back from Wales in a match that saw plenty of incident and controversy for both sides.

Having watched Newport in their midweek home defeat by Welling United, Manager Ian Baird and his back room staff selected a side for the afternoon with certain tactics in mind with the personnel available. This brought about unfamiliar starting positions for Anthony Riviere and David Hughes as well as a recall to the side for Peter Adeniyi. Nobody failed to impress.

Having already snuffed out one Eastleigh attack, the home side created a chance in the opening minute but no player looked as though they had the confidence to have a shot on goal. Play switched immediately to the opposite end as Eastleigh attached a strong wind, with Mark Marshall causing all sorts of concerns for the Newport defence. His initial effort though was stopped by Newport goalkeeper Scott James. Adeniyi had another chance on seven minutes but his weak shot from the edge of the area was saved by James.

A Marshall corner on eighteen minutes curled low to just the inside post which saw James scramble across his line to stop the ball entering the net. Two minutes later and Eastleigh were ahead. Marshall again attacking the Newport defences and his shot from the edge of the box crept past James and nestled in the corner.

Eastleigh lost Riviere shortly afterwards following a heavy challenge which saw the left back for the afternoon struggle for a couple of minutes before having to give way. An Andy Gurney free kick was headed back across the face of the Eastleigh goal by Jermaine Clarke on twenty-four minutes. Two minutes later Paul Cochlin stabbed the ball home for Newport, following a Mark Dodd's free kick but referee Paul Forrester had spotted an infringement on Eastleigh keeper Jason Matthews so brought the play back for a free kick.

As Newport tried to step up the pace, Clarke, using the wind advantage, got in behind the Eastleigh defence but his shot was well saved by Matthews. On the half hour, Bowen got brought to the ground by Ashley Vickers, referee Forrester, adjudging the challenge to be of a serious nature, showed Vickers a straight red card for the offence. Newport lined up the free kick just inside the Eastleigh half and Cochlin arrived to meet Steve Jenkins' free kick and send a header past Matthews to level the score.

Three minutes later and it appeared that Newport has taken the lead. Cochlin again riding to head home a Dodd's free kick but this time the defender was adjudged offside. Having relieved the pressure Marshall arrived unmarked at the opposite end but shot his effort wide of the target. A Chris Piper back pass fell short on thirty eight minutes allowing Craig Hughes to take the ball round Matthews, but Andy Forbes playing in a centre back roll had recovered to clear the Hughes shot way. A minute later and the same Newport striker had another attempt with the hand of wind assistance but shot over the bar.

The second half remained as eventful. Starting the second period in an amazing hailstorm behind the backs of the Eastleigh side which eventually turned in to a clear blue summer sky. On fifty-two minutes Paul Sales headed an Adam Everitt free kick just wide and a minute later home goalkeeper James was caught outside his area trying to retrieve a defensive error only for Sales to try to loft a shot over the keeper into the net. James instinctively caught the ball outside his eighteen-yard line allowing referee Forrester to issue his second red card of the afternoon. Newport withdrew midfielder Lee Fowler for substitute goalkeeper Tony Pennock. Pennock's first action was to watch a low driven Andy Harris free kick go just the wrong side of the upright.

Clarke had another header from a Bowen cross go over the bar whilst Sales saw a shot on the turn saved by Pennock. Forbes rolled a shot wide of the target on seventy-eight minutes, which Eastleigh followers were left thinking they would rue but with ten minutes remaining, Eastleigh netted a winner. Pennock was caught in no man's land on the angle of the eighteen yard box and his attempted clearance fell straight to Sales who guided a shot back from fully thirty five yards. The ball seemed to take an eternity as it finally rolled into the Newport net to the delight of the Eastleigh players and management.

Newport offered little in resistance after this, as Eastleigh added a further three points to cement their position in the play off places.