Eastleigh FC

Eastleigh rounded off a fantastic week and continued their unbeaten streak in pre-season thus far with a penalty shoot out victory over Torquay. After beating Chertsey 1-0 yesterday, the Spitfires sealed a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over their Blue Square Premier opponents. Torquay were invited into the final due to Crystal Palace withdrawing from the competition, but were unable to emerge victorious despite fielding a full strength side. Peter Adeniyi put Eastleigh into the lead with a cooly taken penalty before skipper, Andy Harris fired home a free kick from 25-yards to double the lead on 25 minutes. Torquay hit back with two goals in four minutes late in the second half leaving the game level at full time and in need of being settled by a shootout, which Eastleigh won by five goals to four. Congratulations to everyone involved in this triumph as Ian Baird and his men bring home the first piece of silverware of the new season. Hopefully we have started as we mean to go on! Andy H...

CHERTSEY v EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 25th JULY 2008 Errea South West Cup - Semi-Final By Kevin Dixon Bit of a lack lustre performance for the squad today, still a win is a win as they say! Whilst not getting near the level of performance against Palace and Torquay, we didn't really look in danger of losing the game against a spirited Chertsey team who could only name two subs. Line up: Gareth Howells, Aaron Martin, Luke Byles, Ashley Vickers, Tom Bird, Chris Mason , Neil Davies, Peter Adeniyi, Mark Marshall, Arron Milburn, Matt Groves Subs: (all used during the second half, including Mr. Matthews who came on up front after Neil Davies was stretchered off) - Andy Harris, Jason Matthews, Anthony Riviere, Tom Jordan, Trevor Challis, Tony Taggart, James Baker 'Rivs' came on and smashed in a twenty-yarder to pick up two man of the match awards... In the other semi-final, Yeovil played Torquay who were invited back in to the competition as Crystal Palace withdrew on Friday night due ...

Five pre-season games in, still unbeaten! Having drawn with Grays, beaten Andover, and being 2-0 up against Southampton before eventually drawing in an exciting 3-3 draw, the Spitfires' pre-season preparations could not get much better could it? Well, yes actually! Taking part in the Errea South West Cup Ian Baird's Eastleigh have notched up two terrific wins over Crystal Palace and then last night managing to beat Blue Square Premier side Torquay United on penalties to sail through into the semi finals. Kevin Dixon, heaped praise on how well things are going at present, on the Eastleigh messageboard : "Whilst the tour is proving to be physically tough for the lads they are beginning to gel very well and an excellent team spirit is developing. Credit for this must go to The Management and Coaches who are guiding the squad, and getting the best from what appears to be a very focused and committed group of players." --------------   TORQUAY UNITED v EASTLEIGH THUR...

Testimonial Match - 20th July 2008 Line Ups: Wayne Shaw XI – Lee Webber, Alex Totten, Martin Thomas, Graham Kemp, Stuart Ritchie, Taffy Richardson, Paul Doswell, Danny Smith, Paul Sales, Martin Whidett, Jimmy Ball. Subs: Kevin Reacord, Andy Sampson, Sean New, Ian Beare. Ex-Saints XI – Wayne Shaw, Steve Baker, Francis Benali, Tommy Widdrington, Andy Cook, Craig Richards, Ian Baird, Rick Davis, Rod Wallace, David Howells, Brian Howard. Subs: Paul Wiltshire, Wayne Pratt, Marcel Cullers, Kevin Dawtry, Greg Llewellyn, Bill Beeney. By Richard Montigue A crowd of 385 turned up to pay tribute to the larger than life goalkeeper Wayne Shaw in the sunshine at the Silverlake Stadium. Ex-Eastleigh players and local footballers and managers that Wayne has played with over the years made up the Wayne Shaw XI including captain and right back for the day Paul Doswell. The Ex-Saints XI had the big man in goal himself and included the current Eastleigh manager Ian Baird. The comedian Mike Osman was ...

EASTLEIGH v SOUTHAMPTON SATURDAY 19th JULY 2008 Pre-Season Friendly By Jamie Montigue Southampton brought a youthful side to the Silverlake Stadium on this fine afternoon, mainly due to the more senior squad members taking part in Claus Lundekvam's testimonial match against Celtic the night before. Euro 2008 Polish striker, Marek Saganowski, and contract rebel, Nathan Dyer were the two most recognised names in the starting eleven for the Championship visitors; not that this in anyway was detrimental to the football on display. The Spitfires could not have wished for a better start, taking the lead after a staggering nineteen seconds. The ball was worked over to the far side for Tony Taggart, who got the ball on to his left foot before picking out the perfect cross for JAMES BAKER to nod past the motionless Andrej Pernecky. Jan Poortvliet and Mark Wotte's Saints in their 4-2-1-2-1 formation, did look dangerous at times with their one touch passing and attacking play, but fo...

ANDOVER v EASTLEIGH Tuesday 15th July 2008 Pre-Season Friendly By Jamie Montigue This testimonial match for Andover stalwart Glen Damen, player of almost 400 appearances for the Portway Stadium club, began at a frantic pace with the hosts making the most of the lively opening. Just four minutes into the game, Andover raced into an early lead through MICHAEL TURVEY.A long, diagonal ball forward from the half way line on the near side was sprayed across the pitch to perfection by Brynley McKie, where Turvey took control and did all the rest. The winger cut inside from the left, taking on the back-pedalling Eastleigh right back Neil Davies, before planting a fine side-footed effort beyond Gareth Howells and into the bottom right hand corner of goal. It might have been worse for Eastleigh and probably would have been were it not for a fantastic saving tackle from Peter Adeniyi, who denied the goalscorer Turvey the opportunity of doubling his tally four minutes later. Chris Mason had...

EASTLEIGH v GRAYS ATHLETIC FRIDAY 11th JULY 2008 Pre-Season Friendly By Jamie Montigue Eastleigh welcomed several new faces to the Silverlake Stadium for this first pre-season friendly, including summer signings Tom Jordan, Trevor Challis and strikers James Baker and Matt Groves. Former Havant and Waterlooville FA Cup hero Tony Taggart was also in an Eastleigh shirt for the first time and marked the occasion with a stunning goal. From last years squad only goalkeeper Jason Matthews, captain Andy Harris, midfielders Anthony Riviere and Peter Adeniyi made the starting line up with Luke Byles on the bench. Blue Square Premier outfit Grays Athletic were the visitors for this warm up match, which proved to be a valuable run out for both sides and a thoroughly enjoyable match. Ten minutes into the game, former Queens Park Rangers youngster Stefan Bailey sent across an awkward cross from the right touchline. Ashley Vickers cut the ball out with a key header at the cost of a...

- By Wendy Gee Eastleigh fans will get a first look at new signing James Baker at home to Grays Athletic tonight (7.45pm) – even though the deal for the Braintree Town youngster has yet to be concluded. As Baker is under 24, Braintree are entitled to a fee for the Essex-based striker, but the clubs can't agree a price and it will be left to a tribunal,” explained Eastleigh manager Ian Baird. “We made Braintree an offer, which we believe to a very fair one based on what we see, but they've decided not to accept it. “It's going to cost both clubs money for a tribunal – plus the incovenience of us having to take the day off work to go to London.” After welcoming Baker, Tom Jordan, Trevor Challis and Matt Groves to the Silverlake, Eastleigh are in the process of making Havant & Waterlooville midfielder Tony Taggart their fifth summer signing. It was former Hawks boss Baird who took the former Farnborough, Barnet and Weymouth player to Havant in December 2005 but, despite ...

Eastleigh will start the new campaign with an away trip to Hakan Hayrettin's Thurrock on the opening day of the season, Saturday 9th August. The first home game will be against Newport County on Tuesday 12th August.