Former Spitfire fires double to add to Eastleigh's disappointing away form

WELLING UNITED v EASTLEIGH



SATURDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2008
Blue Square South

Report by Ray Murphy

It should have come as no surprise really that James Baker signed last summer from Braintree Town, then was released three weeks ago by Eastleigh FC, though is still joint leading goalscorer for the Club so far this season, would haunt his old team mates with two goals in the first half as Eastleigh slipped to a defeat at Welling United.

In a fixture rearranged owing to no F A Cup action for the two sides, the irony is is that if Eastleigh had not lost to Burgess Hill in that competition four weeks earlier; Baker could still have been wearing Eastleigh colours. Andy Harris returned to the Eastleigh side in a midfield role following his spell on the sidelines with a suspension whilst Matt Bodkin was relegated to the substitutes bench to deny himself a start against one of his former clubs. Jamie Brown was also favoured in the attack with Matt Groves being replaced.

The game started in a downpour and both sides failed to settle in the conditions early on, though both sides recovered to produce an entertaining match for the neutral spectator. Brown had an angled shot saved by home goalkeeper Jamie Turner on nine minutes but three minutes later and Eastleigh were behind. Welling's impressive Louis Fazackerley, another recent acquisition for them from Bromley, whipped in a cross to the near post where Baker nipped in front of his marker to turn the ball home.

Welling threatened to add to their score in the next couple of minutes also. Charlie Sheringham had a long-range effort just over the bar and Ryan Johnson had a shot deflected off target. In retaliation Tony Taggart had a header that was palmed away by Turner but Welling held the upper hand in the opening period.

On the half hour an excellent right wing cross from Fazackerley flew across the six yard box just evading a finishing touch by Baker and Sheringham, and three minutes later in behind the Eastleigh defence Fazackerley rolled a shot under the advancing Jason Matthews but just wide of the upright. On thirty-six minutes Welling did add a second goal, Lee Blackburn’s precise free kick to the left flank again saw Fazackerley collecting before another cross into the area where Baker was again on hand to head home.

Eastleigh then finished the half in the ascendancy. Harris’ long throw was flicked on by Tom Jordan but Andy Forbes shot wide. Peter Adeniyi and Anthony Riviere then exchanged passes on the edge of the area and as Adeniyi majestically strode into the penalty area in acres of space only managed to send his shot wide of the target.

It was a highly improved second half Eastleigh performance though. The home side for long periods had their ten outfield players retreating behind the ball. Within three minutes of the restart Matthews had to be alert to deny Sheringham but for the majority of the half, the home side relied on breakaways.

Early second half changes saw Bodkin replace Luke Byles and Groves for Brown. Eastleigh reduced the arrears on sixty-four minutes. Riviere's inch perfect through ball allowed Taggart to send a cross into the area for Forbes to shoot home his first league goal of the season. Three minutes later Bodkin had a shot blocked as Eastleigh kept asking the Welling defence questions.

On seventy-eight minutes Adeniyi’s cross saw Groves lay the ball back for Taggart whose shot was just parried away by Turner. With three minutes of the original ninety remaining, Welling broke and added a third goal. A ball cleared from the Eastleigh back line was headed back over the Eastleigh defence by Johnson allowing substitute Jerome Anderson to run on and lob the ball high over Matthews and bounce into the net.

Eastleigh were not going to go down without a fight though. Bodkin saw another shot deflected wide before Forbes added his second goal of the game in the first minute of stoppage time. A deep cross from the left by Steve Clark saw Forbes nip in to tuck home the goal.

It was a nervous Welling that held on for the three points as Eastleigh searched for an equaliser that their second half performance would have deserved, though the required goal never arrived.

James Baker, who joined Eastleigh in the summer from Braintree Town had made a fantastic start to life at the Silverlake Stadium with a return of six goals from 11 starts.

The striker left the club for Welling United last month and today came up against his former side as the Wings hosted a re-arranged Blue Square South fixture.

Baker scored for Eastleigh in their 4-2 win over Welling earlier this season but, speaking to Kent Online ahead of today's clash, hoped for a different outcome this time around as he lines up in Welling colours.

“It’s worked out nicely and will be an interesting game,” said Baker.

“It would be nice to beat them although I never left with any bad feeling, not on my part, but things changed and I wish them luck but hopefully we’ll win on Saturday.”

A much-publicised shortfall in revenue meant Baker was available to leave the Hampshire outfit having only joined in the close season from Braintree, and Welling boss Andy Ford made his move to bring the forward to the club.

Baker added: "The financial problems were the main reason I left, I enjoyed it down there.

"But travelling where I come from (near Stansted airport) was a long way. It was a long drive and to take time out of work as well, it all added up.

“It was a problem for me and I was glad to get the call from Welling and straight away I wanted to come here.

“I had a really good time but circumstances changed and I couldn’t do much about it."