Eastleigh 3-1 Weston-Super-Mare FT - Live Update

EASTLEIGH v WESTON-SUPER-MARE

WEDNESDAY 16th DECEMBER 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Jamie Montigue

Updates from tonight's league game from the Silverlake Stadium:

Line Ups:

EASTLEIGH - Jason Matthews, Steve Cook, Brett Poate, Anthony Riviere, Tom Jordan (c), Aaron Cook, Danny Smith, Andy Forbes, Jamie Brown, Tony Taggart, Shaun McAuley. Subs: Trevor Challis, Matt Day, Jamie White, Richard Gillespie, Peter Adeniyi.

Goals - Tony Taggart (23, 30), Andy Forbes (33).

Weston-S-M: Kevin Sawyer, Mike Green, Callum Hart, Scott Bartlett, Craig Rand, Clayton Fortune, Ben Osman, Darren Mullings, Ben Cleverley, Marvin Brown, Chris Sheppard. Subs: Josh Klein-Davis, Ben Wells, Dayle Grubb, Jake Harris.

In-form Eastleigh stretched their unbeaten run in the Blue Square South to seven games without a loss, as they took on Weston-Super-Mare in this evening's re-scheduled fixture (following the postponement here two Saturday's ago).

The Spitfires made it two wins on the bounce, and five victories from the last seven to climb to seventh in the table, just two points outside the playoffs.

As it happened:

3 - Andy Forbes makes a good run in the opening stages but a dangerous cross from the right hand side evades the Spitfires striker.

7 - Shaun McAuley strong run through the centre of the park, Jamie Brown ruled offside.

9 - Deep free kick from the half way line by Ben Cleverley for the visitors. Watched harmlessly wide by the Eastleigh defence and Jason Matthews.

10 - A minute later their was a brief scare for the hosts as Tom Jordan's back pass to his goalkeeper saw Marvin Morgan put Matthews under pressure.

12 - Tony Taggart cross from the left, sliced wildly behind goal by Callum Hart for a corner kick. From the resulting set piece, Shaun McAuley's in-swinging delivery had to be pushed away by Kevin Sawyer before the referee blew up for an alleged foul on the Seagull's keeper.

14 - Excellent interplay from Andy Forbes and Anthony Riviere. The tireless midfielder latched on to Forbes' clever flick to steam into the penalty area and drill a left foot strike narrowly wide of the far post. Great effort and intense pressure from Ian Baird's side.

16 - Taggart heads behind for a Weston corner. Aaron Cook deals with the high ball into the penalty area before Steve Cook looked to launch a counter attack from right back with a through ball in search of Riviere. The attack broke down as Sawyer raced off his line to clear.

18 - Good move from Eastleigh. Steve Cook combined with Jamie Brown, who in turn found the run of McAuley with a Brazilian touch. McAuley pulled the trigger from a tight angle to the right of goal, only to fire straight at the keeper.

23 - GOAL!!! Eastleigh 1-0 Weston. Steve Cook's left-footed cross from the right flank saw Forbes dummy the ball for Taggart on the far side of the penalty area. Last season's top goalcorer TONY TAGGART fired the ball into the roof of the net with an unstoppable, half volley that proved too hot to handle.

25- Eastleigh on top; Brett Poate blazed high over the stands soon after taking the lead. Moments later a long throw from Steve Cook saw Tom Jordan's looping header safely caught by Sawyer.

30 - GOAL!!! TONY TAGGART doubles his and Eastleigh's lead following a quick break away which saw McAuley race through one on one with the keeper. The former Hampton & Richmond winger unselfishly squared the ball for Taggart to squeeze past two defenders who had tracked back, and into the net.

32 - Taggart is denied a hat-trick with a good header from a McAuley cross.

33 - GOAL!!! ANDY FORBES is back on the score sheet as a rampant Eastleigh side storm into a three goal lead. McAuley's excellent running down the right created the goal with a low cross and his second assist of the night as Forbes stole in to stab the ball home from close range.

36 - Jamie Brown is the next to threaten with a glancing header that flew narrowly over the bar from Poate's left wing cross.

39 - Poate deep free kick found Forbes at far post, header took a deflection - corner.

40 - Forbes in time and space from high ball forward. With an excellent chance to add to his tally, the striker fired straight at Sawyer having beaten the offside trap. Should have been four. Still only one side in this game - Eastleigh in full control.

43 - Great pass and vision from Forbes to set McAuley free down the right touchline. Riviere met the winger's cross with a wayward header following a positive run into the box.

45 - A perfect half from Eastleigh sees the playoff hopefuls sitting clear and comfortable at the break, three goals to the good.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 3-0 Weston-Super-Mare

45 - Double substitution for WSM at the start of the second half - Josh Klein-Davis and Dayle Grubb on for Ben Osman and Chris Sheppard.

46 - Taggart edges ever close to  a hattrick goal. Forbes played the ball into Taggart who fired a low drive towards the bottom corner of goal. Sawyer produced an important stop with his legs to keep the ball out.

47 - Klein-Thomas decent effort from 20 yards, Matthews got behind the ball well to make the save.

49 - Aaron Cook deflected another Klein-Thomas' dipping effort over the bar and behind for a corner. Well -cleared by Poate.

54 - Riviere opted to delay a pass and find Taggart on the right when breaking from midfield. Forbes had made an excellent run on the opposite flank and may have been the better option; as the move eventually broke down.

55 - Grubb shot wide of the mark at the opposite end for Weston-Super-Mare.

60 - Eastleigh are finding Weston far tougher to break down at present, with the visitors upping their game since the break.

63 - WSM Substitution - Jake Harris on for Marvin Brown

64 - Jamie White, Richard Gillespie and Peter Adeniyi all warming up on the sidelines for possible introductions shortly.

65 - Ben Cleverley's free kick from the right proved to be dangerous, though Matthews intervened with a great punch.

66 - McAuley forced a corner on the break. Poate's teasing delivery to the far post found Forbes to perfection, who somehow couldn't steer his header home when well placed.

67 - GOAL, JOSH KLEIN-DAVIS has made an impressive impact having come off the bench, pulling a goal back for the Seagulls after a further, tricky set piece from Cleverley. Eastleigh struggled to deal with the ball into the box this time as the substitute took full advantage to find the net from close range. 3-1.

70 - Danny Smith back on his feet after taking a knock in an aerial collision.

70 - Eastleigh substitution - Peter Adeniyi on for the impressive McAuley, who had a storming first half display.

73 - Jamie Brown turned Clayton Fortune inside out as the rain continues to pour here, but having done the hard work dragged his shot wide of the near post.

74 - Attendance - 253

76 - Callum Hart in need of treatment, gives the players a break in play to re-group.

78 - Richard Gillespie on for Andy Forbes. Forbes put in another good shift and deserved his first half goal as he came off to a warm round of applause from the home support.

78 - A Brett Poate free kick found its way to Aaron Cook who failed to keep his volley down, clearing the stands with his effort.

80 - Klein-Davis forced an excellent save out of Matthews with a shot to the right of goal having broke the Eastleigh offside trap. The Eastleigh stopper made a vital save by narrowing the angle and staying big.

81 - Eastleigh substitution - Trevor Challis on for Brett Poate.

82 - Eastleigh are denied a clear penalty as Aaron Cook has the shirt ripped off his back.

84 - Ian Baird's side came close to a fourth goal as Jamie Brown helped the ball on into the path of Gillespie. The ex-Bashley hot-shot got the better of his marker to create a great chance, only to fire wide with his weaker left foot.

86 - Yellow card, Aaron Cook goes into the book.

88 - Late pressure from Weston-Super Mare. Matthews had to be on his guard to punch two successive corners away as Andy Gurney's visitors looked for an unlikely comeback.

90 - Four additional minutes added on.

90 + 1 - Riviere and Taggart keep the ball in the corner to kill some time.

90 + 3 - Adeniyi does likewise on the far side as Scott Bartlett picks up a yellow card.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 3-1 Weston-Super-Mare