Eastleigh all but secure a playoff place as they break Bishops hoodoo

BISHOPS STORTORD v EASTLEIGH



SATURDAY 4th APRIL 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Ray Murphy

In seven previous matches between these two sides Eastleigh had never recorded a victory, in fact the last five matches have all ended in draws. On Saturday, for those following Eastleigh it might have seemed that they had won this game twice. Seemingly cruising into an unassailable three goal lead, The Spitfires found themselves pegged back to 3-2, before netting a fourth goal, though Stortford kept battling to score their third in the final minute.

Warren Goodhind failed a late fitness test so manager Ian Baird brought in Steve Clark at right back to cover, that being the only change from the three goal midweek win over St Albans City. It all started well with Eastleigh going ahead on six minutes. Ashley Carew’s delightfully threaded through ball was collected by Jonny Dixon in behind the Stortford defence who drove a low shot beyond the left hand of Stortford goalkeeper Nicky Eyre for his third goal in three games.

There were few chances in the opening half and definitely no sign of the goal glut that would follow in the second period. On twenty-five minutes Clark’s cross was headed down by Jamie Brown but Dixon could not get a full connection to his shot to worry Eyre. Thirty-seven minutes played and Eastleigh may have thought they had added a second goal. Tony Taggart’s free kick was half cleared by the Stortford defence only falling some twenty-five yards from goal at the feet of Carew. Carew struck a superb shot at terrific speed that left everyone rooted to the floor but the ball struck the underside of the bar and down into the ground and away with force.

Stortford’s best chance fell four minutes before the interval when a cross from Fulham loanee Lewis Smith was headed wide when well placed by his strike partner Roy Essandoh.

The second half was an explosive affair. Fifty-one minutes played when Eastleigh were two goals ahead. A needlessly conceded corner by Stortford on the Eastleigh right flank, allowed Taggart to inswing a corner right through a crowd of players in the six yard box and end up bulging the back of the net.

Three minutes later and the game was seemingly over with Eastleigh’s third. Another Taggart corner was turned on by Brown allowing Aaron Martin to arrive at the far post to head home goal number three.

Stortford’s response started a few minutes later when Smith found himself in some space in the box but fired wide. On fifty eight minutes Taggart headed wide from a Gavin Heeroo cross then at the opposite end Heeroo was happy to see his header in his own penalty area from Danny Green’s free kick go over the bar.

Green was the creator of Stortford’s first goal on sixty-one minutes. His tricky footwork on the right flank took him past two Eastleigh defenders and from his cross Reece Prestedge guided a header into the corner of the net to give Stortford their lifeline.

On seventy-seven minutes and Eastleigh were even more nervous when they conceded a second goal. A cross from the left flank by Marlon Patterson was not dealt with by the Eastleigh defence and James Lindie stopped to head Stortford right back in the game.

Two minutes later and Eastleigh were almost celebrating again. Taggart’s pass was collected by Carew who sidestepped his defender before firing another bullet shot low down to the right of Eyre only this time to see the ball rebound off the post. Stortford could have drawn level after eighty-three minutes. Green’s cross was headed down into the ground by Lindie when well placed in the area and away to safety.

Eastleigh finally thought they had secured a victory on eighty-six minutes. Substitute Brett Williams collected Clark’s through ball on his chest turning past his marker before dipping a left foot half volley out of the reach of Eyre and into the net, 4-2 Eastleigh.

Don’t think you can have it too easy though, on the ninetieth minute a left foot drive from the impressive Smith flew into the left hand corner of Jason Matthews’ net after Eastleigh failed to fully clear their lines from a corner.

It was a nervous final few minutes of stoppage time to be played though Eastleigh hung on to their three points giving them an almost claimed spot in the play off positions with their fifth successive victory.