Hughes on comeback trail

Eastleigh 2nd XI 4-1 Ash United Res.
Suburban Premier League

TEAM: Gareth Howells, Martin Thomas, Aaron Martin, Ashley Vickers (c), Adam Shepherd, Arron Milburn, David Hughes, Jamie Brown, Nick Watt, Tom Clarke, Leon Cameron

SUBS: Joe Maxwell (on for Cameron 52), Williams Peauroux (on for Watt 52), Jamie Powell (on for Brown 78)

Match Report by Jamie Montigue

David Hughes is on the mend from his injury setback as he completed a full 90 minutes for the reserves this evening, typically pulling the strings from midfield and producing some fine passes.

Paul Wiltshire and Wayne Mew were boosted with a number of first team squad members in their line up. Goalkeeper Gareth Howells, centre back Ashley Vickers, who skippered, midfielder Jamie Brown, who is still yet to play a full game since his own injury set back and is being eased back in gently, and new signing Tom Clarke who signed last week having previously played for Dorchester Town, all put in good performances and helped to aid the younger players around them.

Eastleigh took the lead in the 21st minute after a fairly well-balanced opening to the game.

The goal came about from a Howells drop kick, which Clarke rose well to head out to the right flank for Arron Milburn to cross first time from the byline. Centre forward LEON CAMERON took full advantage of the service providing an excellent finishing touch, his effort beating the keeper all ends up and going in off the post.

Three minutes later, LEON CAMERON added another to his tally for the night with an equally impressive goal. Looping the ball up and over the head of his marker, Leon beat the next man before volleying the ball goalwards from 8 yards. The keeper reacted well to keep out the initial strike but like all good forwards Cameron followed in his own shot to grab both his and Eastleigh's second goal of the game. A fine individual effort.

Completing a sensational six minutes, in which time the Spitfires helped themselves to three goals, AARON MARTIN was the next to get himself on the scoresheet. Nick Watt's corner from the near side saw the centre back meet the delivery with a powerful header at the back post to put further daylight between the two sides.

Tom Clarke came close with a couple of speculative efforts from range before the visitors pulled one back.

Eight minutes before the break, Eastleigh were undone by an Ash United long ball. Gareth Howells was caught in no man's land in his penalty area and the Ash number 10 capitalised with a first time finish to lob the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Just before half time, Nick Watt forced a fine save out of the Ash United keeper with a good effort on the far side.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh Res. 3-1 Ash United Res.

Eastleigh made a couple of changes with Joe Maxwell and Williams Peauroux replacing two-goal Leon Cameron and Nick Watt respectively in the 52nd minute.

In the early stages of the second half, Tom Clarke showed that he is far from scared of having a go at goal from distance. Two or three times, the young forward was not far away from finding the target.

Joe Maxwell fired over the bar following an excellent through ball from left back Adam Shepherd just after the hour mark.

Aaron Martin may well have restored the three-goal cushion as he was presented with a free header from a Clarke corner but didn't manage to test the keeper on this occasion, heading narrowly wide.

In the 74th minute, Eastleigh made it 4-1 through JOE MAXWELL. Peauroux's shot from 25 yards was spilled by the keeper into the path of Clarke to the left of the 18-yard box. Sending over a telling cross, Clarke found Maxwell with precision to provide the assist, the ball sitting up perfectly for the young striker to slam home side-footed, on the volley.

The Spitfires went down to 10 men, three minutes later as Martin Thomas picked up his second yellow card to be given his marching orders.

Despite being a man down, Eastleigh had the better chances in the closing stages with Peauroux having a shot cleared off the goalline and Maxwell coming close in injury time.

A good win and most importantly for Ian Baird, who was in attendance with First Team Coach Matt Gray, would have been to see David Hughes get a full game under his belt.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 4-1 Ash United Res.

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