Hampshire Senior Cup - Semi Final

FLEET TOWN v EASTLEIGH

TUESDAY 10th MARCH 2009
Hampshire Senior Cup Semi Final

Report by Ray Murphy

For the second time this season, Eastleigh tasted defeat in the Hampshire Senior Cup. Unlike in the last round though, when they were reinstated following an administration error at their opponent’s venue, Eastleigh will have no course for recall from this semi-final defeat.

Only one player remained from the Eastleigh side that had tasted defeat in their previous Blue Square fixture, whilst the Ryman League side Fleet Town, also on the verge of a play off position in their division, were four players short of the side that had represented them the previous Saturday, whilst former Eastleigh winger Darren Wheeler was cup-tied.

It was an evenly contested first half where Eastleigh including five nineteen-year-olds in their starting line up along with another two players a year younger, had a couple of chances to have taken the lead. In the first minute Nick Watts' cross was headed wide by Joe Maxwell and six minutes later another Watt delivery was headed just over the bar by Tom Nicholas.

Will Salmon flashed a low drive just wide of the target on twelve minutes whilst skipper for the night Martin Thomas had a long-range effort that was just over.

Excellent work by former Queens Park Rangers striker/midfielder Chris Flood allowed Maxwell in on goal but Maxwell shot straight at the advancing Fleet goalkeeper Mark Smalley on thirty-three minutes, then a minute later at the opposite end Salmon's cross was knocked back by Jamie McClurg only for Ed Smith to shoot tamely at Gareth Howells.

Three minutes before the interval Steve Noakes headed Darren Campbell’s corner wide and the interval arrived with no goals.

With the slope at their advantage, the home side took little time in pressing home an advantage. Within a minute of the restart Nathan Smart's swerving shot was pushed away by Howells but from the ensuing corner Smart sent another dipping drive beyond the reach of Howells to give Fleet the lead.

Noakes quickly saw a header pushed away by Howells and another Smart long-range effort struck the bar as Fleet took full control of the game. On sixty-five minutes the second and decisive goal arrived for Fleet. A long clearance from Smalley was not cleared by the Eastleigh rearguard, which allowed Ed Smith to wrestle free from the markers and fire a low shot to Howells' left.

As the game ebbed away, Howells had to deal with another long-range effort from Smart and pre-season Eastleigh trialist Tom Bird saw a long-range effort saved by the Eastleigh keeper.

Fleet Town now go for their second Hampshire Senior Cup Final appearance in three seasons, this one at St Mary’s Stadium against Sydenhams Wessex League side VTFC on Thursday 30th April.