In Reserve: Ten man Eastleigh slump to defeat

Eastleigh 2nd XI 0-3 Uxbridge Res.

Suburban Premier League

TEAM: Andy Wynn, Niall Bryant, Sam Doswell, Aaron Martin, Jason Sangha, Chris Mason, Tom Winzar, Adam Wiltshire, Scott Waters, Joe Maxwell, Adam Shepherd

SUBS: Les Wallace (on for Winzar 67), Aaron Milburn (on for Waters 67), Sam Skinner (on for Bryant 84)
 
Match Report by Jamie Montigue

It was one to forget for Eastleigh's second eleven this afternoon in the poor playing conditions of swirling, strong wind and the bitter cold. This was the Spitfires' third straight defeat as todays visitors to the Silverlake Stadium, Uxbridge Reserves took to the weather and adapted far better.

Just two minutes into the game Eastleigh found themselves a goal down - the worst possible start. A hopeful free kick from range looked to have been covered by goalkeeper Andy Wynn but was dropped dangerously in front of goal and according to the referee's assistant on the near side had crossed the line in the fiasco.


Conceding so early was a bad predicament to be in and evidently dented the confidence of several members of the Eastleigh line up at this very early stage.

Things could have gone from bad to worse, as in the seventh minute the visitors' number 10 had got on the wrong side of the Eastleigh defence to find himself clean through on goal from an excellent through ball. Aaron Martin stepped in to intervene, at a critical moment to do just enough, putting the striker off balance when pulling the trigger.

Martin, the commanding centre half, was shown a yellow card shortly after for a strong challenge, it was just the start of the disaster which was to follow.

Eastleigh's first chance saw Scott Waters feed the ball through down the middle in search of Adam Wiltshire that had to be cut out to earn a corner kick.

Uxbridge continued to have the better of the play in general with a header going just over the cross bar and then a free kick from the left flying across goal just needing a touch to divert it past the stranded Wynn.

A little over the half hour mark a Joe Maxwell cross was sliced behind from a wicked deflection that so nearly flew into the back of the net but instead went out for a corner kick.

Four minutes before the break, Aaron Martin was dismissed for a second yellow card following remarks and dissent to the referee. Eastleigh had rarely been in the game as it was, they now had to soldier on with just ten men.

In the closing seconds of the first half, Tom Winzar sent a good delivery into the penalty area from the right where Adam Shepherd arrived in the middle to connect with a decent half volley forcing a fine save out of the Uxbridge goalkeeper. This the closest Eastleigh had come to a goal.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 0-1 Uxbridge Res.

Eastleigh provided more resistance throughout the second half and demonstrated a vast improvement.

Despite this, in the 48th minute, Andy Wynn had to be on his guard to deny the Uxbridge number 10, who again had raced through unattended to powerfully drive the ball goalwards in the one-on-one situation only for Wynn to thwart the attack with alert goalkeeping to come out on top.

A cross from Winzar sat up nicely for Shepherd at the back post five minutes later, whose towering looping header was relatively easy for the goalkeeper to make a comfortable save.

Chris Mason came exceedingly close with a fine attempt from all of 40 yards with an audacious chip, spotting the Uxbridge stopper off his line. Mason was not far away at all but unlucky to see his dipping effort narrowly fly over goal and behind for a goal kick.

The hosts were beginning to pile the pressure on and again came close to finding a goal to get themselves back in the game. Tom Winzar cut in from the right flank before getting a shot away with his left foot to force the goalkeeper into a good save, low at his near post. The power on the shot meant the keeper could only parry and spill the ball kindly into the path of Mason whose follow up was stopped dead in its tracks from a superb last ditch tackle from close range to deny an other wise certain equaliser.

Chris Mason continued to drive his side on and came close with a further impressive attempt, this time a volley that had the keeper beaten only to miss the target but a matter of inches.

Unfortunately, the brave efforts of the ten men of Eastleigh had to come to an end as they began to tire and this came in the form of Uxbridge's second goal of the afternoon.

A relatively simple goal, at least it was made to look that way, saw a throw on flicked on and then smashed home leaving Wynn no chance but to pick the ball out of the net.

This forced Eastleigh into a double substitution with Les Wallace and Aaron Milburn replacing both Tom Winzar and Scott Waters.

Ten minutes from time it looked as though Wallace had reduced the deficit as his stinging drive looked destined for the top corner but for a stunning save from the keeper.

Sadly this was the last attempt from Eastleigh as their opponents netted a decisive third goal to kill the game off eight minutes from time. A fine individual effort from the Uxbridge number 10 saw the quick and skilful forward beat one and then two defenders with his direct running, getting a lucky bounce off another before shimmying to his right to round Wynn and deliver the finish. Game, set, match.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 0-3 Uxbridge Res.

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