Saints put five past poor Eastleigh
ST. ALBANS v EASTLEIGH
SATURDAY 30th AUGUST 2008
Blue Square South
SATURDAY 30th AUGUST 2008
Blue Square South
Report by Ray Murphy
For the second time in a week, Eastleigh conceded five goals in a Blue Square South fixture. Unlike the previous week's encounter at Bromley though where the five goals against was a harsh reflection on the match, Saturday's five goal drubbing at St. Albans carried a completely different story with a highly disappointing Eastleigh performance.
Starting with the same eleven that had defeated Bognor Regis Town five days earlier, this time Eastleigh were on the defence from the kick off. Seemingly more eager the home side took only six minutes to open the scoring. Without a victory in their opening five fixtures St Albans were congratulating the acrobatics of striker Simon Martin who produced a spectacular overhead kick to send the ball beyond Jason Matthews into the back of the net after the Eastleigh defence had failed to clear a corner from the home side, despite several opportunities.
As play switched to the opposite end a minute later Tony Taggart's corner was headed back across goal by Tom Jordan but Matt Groves could only head the ball high into the arms of home goalkeeper Paul Bastock. On ten minutes St. Albans added a second. Bastock's long goalkick fell behind Jordan allowing Paul Hakim a run on goal simply lofting the ball over the advancing Matthews and into the net.
This was a below par performance and Eastleigh never looked like revering from the two goal deficit. On seventeen minutes from an Eastleigh corner Bastock only managed to palm the ball away to the edge of the box where Jamie Brown fired a shot low but wide of the target. Two minutes later James Baker sent in a cross from the right wing but Matt Groves was denied by the feet of Bastock.
The home side always looked as though they would add to their tally. On twenty-six minutes, Hassan Sulaiman cut inside the Eastleigh defence but shot straight at Matthews. Seven minutes later Simon Martin beat both Jordan and Trevor Challis in a jinking run but Matthews saved the striker's shot.
With thirty-nine minutes played a piece of play typically summed up the Eastleigh afternoon. Baker taking on a defender in the area was tackled but the ball rolled to Taggart who measured a cross into the six-yard box. Groves in space could only head the ball straight into the arms of Bastock. Groves was guilty of a tame shot a minute later, which again Bastock fielded.
St. Albans added their third goal on forty-two minutes. A left wing corner from Jonathan Hunt was met with a powerful header from skipper and defender Ben Martin giving Matthews no chance. As the Eastleigh afternoon of misery continued, in the second minute of first half stoppage time a free kick into the St Albans area was flicked on by Luke Byles, but Jordan only managed to loft the ball over the bar.
Baker did get the ball in to the back of the St Albans net in the sixth minute of the second half, but the effort was disallowed for offside. With sixty-eight minutes played and any remote chance of an Eastleigh comeback was halted. A misunderstanding between Challis and Matthews allowed Sulaiman to nip in between the two and delicately chip the ball over the top of Matthews and bounce into the net.
With the game over as a contest St Albans finished the scoring with nine minutes remaining. Substitute Gary Cohen accelerated past Aaron Martin before firing a low left foot drive past Matthews.
For the second time in a week, Eastleigh conceded five goals in a Blue Square South fixture. Unlike the previous week's encounter at Bromley though where the five goals against was a harsh reflection on the match, Saturday's five goal drubbing at St. Albans carried a completely different story with a highly disappointing Eastleigh performance.
Starting with the same eleven that had defeated Bognor Regis Town five days earlier, this time Eastleigh were on the defence from the kick off. Seemingly more eager the home side took only six minutes to open the scoring. Without a victory in their opening five fixtures St Albans were congratulating the acrobatics of striker Simon Martin who produced a spectacular overhead kick to send the ball beyond Jason Matthews into the back of the net after the Eastleigh defence had failed to clear a corner from the home side, despite several opportunities.
As play switched to the opposite end a minute later Tony Taggart's corner was headed back across goal by Tom Jordan but Matt Groves could only head the ball high into the arms of home goalkeeper Paul Bastock. On ten minutes St. Albans added a second. Bastock's long goalkick fell behind Jordan allowing Paul Hakim a run on goal simply lofting the ball over the advancing Matthews and into the net.
This was a below par performance and Eastleigh never looked like revering from the two goal deficit. On seventeen minutes from an Eastleigh corner Bastock only managed to palm the ball away to the edge of the box where Jamie Brown fired a shot low but wide of the target. Two minutes later James Baker sent in a cross from the right wing but Matt Groves was denied by the feet of Bastock.
The home side always looked as though they would add to their tally. On twenty-six minutes, Hassan Sulaiman cut inside the Eastleigh defence but shot straight at Matthews. Seven minutes later Simon Martin beat both Jordan and Trevor Challis in a jinking run but Matthews saved the striker's shot.
With thirty-nine minutes played a piece of play typically summed up the Eastleigh afternoon. Baker taking on a defender in the area was tackled but the ball rolled to Taggart who measured a cross into the six-yard box. Groves in space could only head the ball straight into the arms of Bastock. Groves was guilty of a tame shot a minute later, which again Bastock fielded.
St. Albans added their third goal on forty-two minutes. A left wing corner from Jonathan Hunt was met with a powerful header from skipper and defender Ben Martin giving Matthews no chance. As the Eastleigh afternoon of misery continued, in the second minute of first half stoppage time a free kick into the St Albans area was flicked on by Luke Byles, but Jordan only managed to loft the ball over the bar.
Baker did get the ball in to the back of the St Albans net in the sixth minute of the second half, but the effort was disallowed for offside. With sixty-eight minutes played and any remote chance of an Eastleigh comeback was halted. A misunderstanding between Challis and Matthews allowed Sulaiman to nip in between the two and delicately chip the ball over the top of Matthews and bounce into the net.
With the game over as a contest St Albans finished the scoring with nine minutes remaining. Substitute Gary Cohen accelerated past Aaron Martin before firing a low left foot drive past Matthews.
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