Forbes nets two as fabulous Eastleigh fire four goals in away win

MAIDENHEAD UNITED v EASTLEIGH



SATURDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2008
Blue Square South

Report by Ray Murphy

Maidenhead United's unbeaten home record for 2008/9 had come to an end a week earlier when Chelmsford City took over top spot in the Division with a 2-0 victory at York Road. Fielding the same eleven against Eastleigh, Maidenhead suffered an even heavier defeat as The Spitfires fired three goals in an eight-minute spell at the start of the second half.

Playing in a 4-4-2 formation, Eastleigh manager Ian Baird brought back Matt Groves into the attack at the expense of Jamie Brown, whilst Andy Harris started in his normal right back position and Steve Clark wide right midfield.

The opening part of the game saw both sides exerting lots of energy but no composure or penetration from either side on an afternoon when a blustery wind was making conditions difficult. It was the first real goal attempt by either side after thirteen minutes that brought the first goal of the afternoon. Owing to the enterprise of Anthony Riviere. Intercepting a ball inside his own half, Riviere ran wide to chase the ball. Shrugging off a challenge and managing to keep his balance, Riviere then strode towards the goal line before switching the ball back into the area where Peter Adeniyi placed a shot into the corner of the net wide of the home goalkeeper Shane Gore.

Five minutes later and Eastleigh were almost further ahead, Tom Jordan’s header from a Tony Taggart corner was headed off the line by Tyron Smith. The Maidenhead front line of former Havant and Ian Baird's charges of Rocky Baptiste and Richard Pacquette were kept subdued by the Eastleigh defence. In the twenty-first minute Ben Surey’s pass was flicked on by Baptiste allowing Pacquette in behind the Eastleigh defence but Jason Matthews produced an excellent stop to keep Eastleigh in front.

A Harris long throw on twenty-eight minutes saw Jordan’s header saved at the near post by another ex-Havant colleague Gore. But the home side did produce an equaliser after thirty-seven minutes. Ashley Smith collected a cross-field pass from Ashley Nicholls on the left flank before cutting inside and firing a shot from twenty yards that struck the underside of the bar before rolling down inside of the net.

The half ended all square and Eastleigh started the second half in fine style. Fifty minutes played and Taggart fired home after another Harris long throw had been flicked on by Andy Forbes and Groves. From the restart Harris gained possession sent a long ball forward allowing Forbes to get in-between Gore and central defender Dominic Sterling to steer home to give Eastleigh a two goal advantage.

Jordan saw an overhead kick saved by Gore on fifty-six minutes but not to be outdone, two minutes later a Harris corner to the far post was headed home by Forbes for his fourth goal in two games. A minute later Forbes was almost celebrating a hat trick but he screwed his shot just wide of the upright.

The game as a contest was over; Maidenhead showed brief little flurries but never really showed any danger to the Eastleigh defence, despite playing the remainder of the game with three front-runners. Dale Binns had a free kick tamely into the arms of Matthews, Pacquette shot wide when well placed and Ashley Smith having shrugged off a challenge from substitute Matt Bodkin, saw Mathews save his low shot.

An excellent performance overall from an Eastleigh side gaining only their second away victory in the Blue Square South this season.