Paul Murray returns as Chairman

Press Release from www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk:

With effect from May 1st, Paul Murray will reassume the role of Chairman at Eastleigh Football Club.

Paul stood down from this position in August, so that he could concentrate on his main business interests during the more demanding economic conditions that currently exist. Paul comments; "Now that we have taken the necessary adjustments to our business operations, I am more comfortable with the commercial environment within which we now have to work. I am therefore more than happy to return as Chairman of the Club, a role that I enjoy and one which enables me to contribute to the ongoing success of the football club."

The outgoing Chairman, Chris Evans, has now based himself abroad, and has therefore found it difficult to be as involved as he would have liked. He continues to be a Director of the Club and will continue to help with the strategic development of Eastleigh Football Club.

Advantage Eastleigh - Spitfires rampant in first leg of play off semi final

HAYES & YEADING UNITED v EASTLEIGH

TUESDAY 28th APRIL 2009
Blue Square South - Play off Semi-Final Leg 1

Report by Ray Murphy

The two league games that these two clubs had contested this season produced a solitary goal and that scored by Eastleigh came with almost the last kick of the game. Few therefore who visited the west London home of Hayes & Yeading United for this Blue Square South semi Final First Leg play off would have expected the scoring spree to be presented on the evening nor the value of the Eastleigh victory against a host side that had completed their last fifteen Blue Square South fixtures without a defeat.

The Spitfires welcomed back first choice goalkeeper Jason Matthews and midfielder Anthony Riviere into their side that also contained the returning Warren Goodhind and Jamie Brown restored to a striking role. An exhilarating opening by Eastleigh saw them take a four-goal lead as well as miss a penalty and see their opponents lose their leading goalscorer to a red card.

The drama started on just five minutes. Goodhind’s free kick into the area was helped on by skipper Tom Jordan allowing Tony Taggart to loop a header over keeper Aaron Howe giving Eastleigh the advantage.

Were Eastleigh going to sit back on their early breakthrough? The answer was definitely no. A minute after the goal, Goodhind launched a further long throw into the box, again Jordan helped on with the ball striking the arm of Hayes & Yeading skipper Tom Cadmore and referee Gavin Muge awarded Eastleigh a penalty. The normally reliable Taggart rolled his shot low to Howes left but the keeper sprawled across his line to make the save.

Eastleigh though were not to be denied. They kept attacking their home rivals. A minute after the penalty a Taggart corner was scrambled away from the finishing power of Brown. Ashley Carew provided a ball into the box shortly after this time only for Brett Williams to head over the bar.

The stunned home side managed to break away from their own half on the tenth minute and won a corner from which their leading scorer Josh Scott looped a header over the Eastleigh bar.

The host side started to settle after the early Eastleigh onslaught. Goodhind was penalised for a foul on Will Hendry on the edge of the area on sixteen minutes from which Hendry himself took the free kick but his low drive was saved by Matthews.

On twenty minutes Goodhind’s cross was headed back by Brown falling nicely for Taggart but the winger volleyed his effort over the bar. As play switched to the opposite end a minute later, a low shot on the turn by Scott was saved at his near post by Matthews.

With twenty-six minutes played Eastleigh added their second. Luke Byles’ ball into the area saw Brett Williams collect the ball; his first effort being blocked but the young striker steadied himself before burying a left footed drive beyond the reach of Howe.

Tempers flared over on thirty-eight minutes. Carew and Scott were involved in a fracas that ended with referee Muge cautioning Carew but issuing Scott with a straight red card for moving his head towards Carew which was deemed as violent conduct thus not only making Scott sit out the rest of this game but any future games in this seasons Blue Square South play off fixtures that Hayes & Yeading may be involved with.

Worse was to follow for the home side. On the stroke of half time another Taggart cross into the Hayes six yard area saw Riviere arrive first to plant a header into the back of the Hayes net to give Eastleigh a three goal interval lead.

The second half started with Eastleigh in the same attacking vain. Within two minutes of the restart Brown's header from a Taggart free kick bounced right across the face of the Hayes goal with no one able to apply the finishing touch. On fifty-one minutes Eastleigh did add a fourth goal. A turn and shot after collecting the ball on the edge of the box from Williams, wrong-footed Howe with the assistance of a massive deflection off James Mulley but the striker’s second goal of the evening gave Eastleigh a four-goal advantage.

Carew’s cross three minutes later gave Williams the chance to claim a hat trick but this time composure escaped Williams and he failed to hit the target. With fifty-nine minutes played the home side gave Eastleigh an alarm call. Substitute striker Scott Fitzgerald thrown into the fray at half time headed the ball into the back of the Eastleigh net but the goal was disallowed for an offside flag from the referee’s assistant.

The deficit was reduced on seventy-one minutes. The Hayes & Yeading man of the match Hendry shot goal wards after being set up by Fitzgerald hitting the arm of an Eastleigh defender and the second penalty kick of the evening was awarded. This time Hendry made no mistake with his penalty.

Taggart saw a curling shot pushed away by Howe but the last minutes belonged to the home side as they again attempted to reduce the deficit further. Mathews pulled off another good stop from a shot by Hendry, then an in swinging corner from the Hayes danger man saw Aaron Martin head the ball from under his own bar.

As the game was drifting off into stoppage time another Hendry corner arrived at the far Eastleigh post where a collection of Hayes players were arriving allowing centre back Matt Ruby to head home a second Hayes goal thus they travel to Eastleigh for the second leg with only a two goal deficit.

David Hughes Testimonial

By Jamie Montigue

Southampton and Eastleigh legend David Hughes had a day to remember as in excess of 1,800 turned out to support his thoroughly deserved testimonial game held at the Silverlake Stadium.

Stars past and present turned out for the 36-year-old midfielder with an ex-Saints XI taking on an ex-Eastleigh side. Comedian Mike Osman provided entertainment throughout the afternoon with witty commentary and banter during the game.

FA Cup winning manager Lawrie McMenemy kicked the game off with fans favourite goalscorer James Beattie (now of Stoke), but the striker could not play any further part due to an injury. The starting line up for the Saints was as follows:

Neil Moss in goal, a back four of Paul Telfer and Francis Benali as the full backs and deadly defensive duo re-united in the centre as Claus Lundekvam and Michael Svensson lined up alongside each other at the heart of defence. In the middle were Jo Tessem, David Howells, Matt Oakley who recently won promotion to the Championship with Leicester under former Saints boss Nigel Pearson, and of course the main event himself - David Hughes.

Up front, a certain Matt Le Tissier partnered Rod Wallace.

At half time the scoreline was 2-0 with David Howells scoring the opener and typically Hughes scoring in style on his big day. Le Tiss showed glimpses of his Dell magic and came close throughout the half, whilst Rod Wallace had a 'goal' ruled out for offside.

After the break both teams made wholesale changes. For the Saints, Le Tissier was joined in attack by young Mitchell in a father-son front line, meanwhile Spitfires boss Ian Baird who has guided his side to their best league finish in the Conference South and steered them comfortably into the playoffs against the odds, got a good run out in a central midfield role. The likes of Nicky Banger, Richard Dryden, Neil Heaney, Perry Groves, Paul Tisdale, Steve Baker and Mark Blake also made appearances with Wayne Shaw taking the gloves and playing out the second half in goal.

Le Tissier senior completed the scoring in a 3-0 win for the ex-Saints but the afternoon belonged to Hughes who gave an emotional speech after the game thanking many people for making the event possible and such a big success.

Long may your career continue 'Hughesy'.

Link to photo gallery

Hawks held as Eastleigh prepare for playoffs

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v EASTLEIGH

SATURDAY 25th APRIL 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh finished their final league game of the season ahead of the playoffs with an away draw at Hampshire rivals Havant & Waterlooville.

Ian Baird was dealt with the double injury blow this week of both his goalkeepers Jason Matthews and Gareth Howells picking up injuries. As a result, the Conference gave the Spitfires the go ahead to make an emergency loan signing which paved the way for Braintree’s Nicky Morgan to make his Eastleigh debut this afternoon.

The only other changes to the starting eleven from the 1-0 win over Worcester last time out saw Steve Clark come into the side at right back in place of Warren Goodhind whilst Jamie Brown was back in action at the expense of Anthony Riviere, who was rested.

Two minutes into the game Morgan’s first test between the sticks for his new club came from his opposite number as Hawks goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore’s drop kick bounced dangerously all the way down the pitch from one end to the other. Eastleigh’s loan acquisition back-pedalled and watched the ball safely over his cross bar though the referee deemed the keeper to have touched it over for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Guy Butters met Jamie Collins’ near side corner with a diving header which Morgan held safely.

In the 9^th minute Eastleigh went on the attack with Luke Byles making a forward run from the left and crossing from the by line to find Tony Taggart whose shot from 12 yards was blocked.

Minutes later the visitors were on the front foot once more as Taggart chipped a cross in for Brown to knock down into the path of Brett Williams. The young striker’s effort however, was straight at Ashmore.

One of several former Hawks on display in the red of Eastleigh at Westleigh Park was the scintillating Taggart who time and again tormented his full back attacking at pace and delivering teasing crosses. His next ball in to the box was well cut by the keeper ahead of Carew as Eastleigh continued with their early pressure.

Luke Medley’s cross from the left was headed away by Aaron Martin but only as far as Jamie Collins in the 14^th minute. The Havant skipper blasted the ball out of the ground with a wild shot as the hosts began to show signs of hitting Eastleigh on the break.

Morgan was out well to tidy up a through ball for Luke Nightingale soon after, before Craig Watkins played a neat one-two with Wes Fogden which Steve Clark tidied up by nodded back to his keeper.

The Spitfires had an ideal opportunity to open the scoring in the 20^th minute when Taggart latched on to Jonny Dixon’s pass before getting on to his left foot and finding Jamie Brown unattended arriving at the far post with a floated cross. Brown couldn’t quite take advantage on this occasion as he headed wide of goal by a couple of yards when well placed.

Havant went straight up the pitch when Watkins’ pace took him past Clark and left the Eastleigh full back for dead. Morgan kept out the initial attempt with a fine block but CRAIG WATKINS followed up well from his own shot to scramble home the opening goal of the game.

As the half progressed, Luke Medley fed the ball through for Nightingale who beat the Eastleigh offside trap to find himself one on one with the keeper where he was then denied bravely by Morgan who stood tall to save at the striker’s feet.

Shaun Wilkinson lifted a shot high over the bar under pressure from long range but improved with his next attempt in the 37^th minute as his stinging drive produced a decent save out of Morgan.

A minute later, ASHLEY CAREW grabbed his second goal in as many games with a real contender for goal of the season. Picking the ball up out on the right flank, Carew took no second thought in pulling the trigger and couldn’t have hit it any better. The ball swerved from left to right at a thunderous pace and nestled into the top left hand corner of goal from all of 35 yards – a stunning strike to get Eastleigh back on level terms seven minutes before the break.

HALF TIME: Havant & Waterlooville 1-1 Eastleigh

Immediately after the restart, Eastleigh surged forward with Taggart’s cross from the left met by a looping Jonny Dixon header that flew narrowly over the bar.

Down the left flank, the Spitfires were looking dangerous with Byles combining with and complementing Taggart with his overlapping runs to send a couple of deliveries into the box within the opening stages of the second half.

In the 53^rd minute, Brett Williams played the ball out to his right to find Carew whose shot was deflected for a corner kick. Williams forced a corner on the opposite side soon after and this time Carew’s delivery was spilled.

The Hawks had a penalty shout waved away as Steven Walker went down in the area and then in the 64^th minute Jonny Dixon had played his final action for Eastleigh after an extremely valuable contribution since arriving on loan from Brighton as he will return to his club and be unavailable for the playoffs, as Matt Groves replaced him to complete Eastleigh’s first substitution.

Eastleigh came within a whisker of taking the lead through Brett Williams who hit the underside of the bar with an excellent half volley from Jordan’s headed knock down. Taggart broke down the left in the very next phase of play and drove an angled left-foot strike across the keeper and wide of goal.

With thirteen minutes remaining Havant went ahead for the second time in the game, again against the run of play. Fancy footwork from Luke Medley worked an opening to send a low cross into the box where STEVEN WALKER did all the rest by finding the smallest of gaps between Morgan and his near post to beat the keeper from 8 yards.

Eastleigh went all out to get back into the game as can be expected and came close when Jordan headed over the bar from a Carew free kick but got their just rewards when MATT GROVES hit the ball first time across Nathan Ashmore to provide an end product from Peter Adeniyi’s sublime approach play and killer ball that was like a sword to the Hawks defence as Ian Baird’s side grabbed a deserved equaliser four minutes from time to ensure an unbeaten league run against Havant this season.

Two successive Eastleigh corners followed, meanwhile Havant were denied stealing all three points thanks to a perfectly timed saving tackle from Aaron Martin to keep out the goal scorer Walker’s shot in injury time.

Wilkinson chipped the ball in to Watkins whose backward header was wayward extremely late in the game before the final action saw Wilkinson blaze comfortably wide from a centrally positioned free kick.

Eastleigh will now play Hayes & Yeading United in the all important play off semi-finals with the first leg being played away on Tuesday night and the second leg at the Silverlake Stadium a week today.

FULL TIME: Havant & Waterlooville 2-2 Eastleigh

Match pictures by Jozef Montigue

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Morgan drafted in to deal with goalkeeping crisis

INJURED: Jason Matthews and Gareth Howells

With both of Eastleigh's senior goalkeepers out injured; Jason Matthews suffering from a groin problem and Gareth Howells a leg injury, the Spitfires have been given permission by the Football Conference to make an emergency loan signing.

This evening an announcement on the Eastleigh messageboard confirmed the reported story in today's Daily Echo that Braintree Town's Nicky Morgan has been drafted in on loan to cover for tomorrow's showdown with rivals Havant & Waterlooville and for the playoffs if necessary should Matthews not return to fitness in time for Tuesday's Semi-Final away leg.

Poate signs on for next season

Eastleigh have captured a new signing ahead of next season, perhaps in light of Luke Byles imminent departure after the playoffs. Managing Director Dave Malone confirmed the transfer:

"We are delighted to confirm that tonight we have completed the signing of Brett Poate.

"Brett, aged 25, was previously with Havant & Waterlooville and was prior to that at Southampton.

"Of course Brett will not be available to play for us this season, but we look forward to seeing him in an Eastleigh shirt as soon as pre-season comes around!

Welcome Brett!"

Profile from havantandwaterlooville.net :

Pic courtesy of Dave Haines

Born 1983 Brett joined the Hawks on loan in August 2002 from Southampton FC’s Youth Academy, where he was a third year student. Having played against the Hawks earlier the same month in a pre-season friendly, he impressed enough to be drafted in at the start of the 2002/03 season to cover for injured players.

Saints released Brett at the end of that season, and he returned to the Hawks after try outs with various league clubs around the country. An unimpressive tenure as a signed player followed, and Brett was farmed out on loan to Bognor Regis in January 2004, from where he returned a month later completely revitalised.

Now in his seventh season, Brett is the side’s longest serving player, having amassed 237 appearances to the start of the 2008/09 campaign. His versatility has seen him play in midfield as well as at left back, and his lethally accurate shot has seen him rack up 32 goals; mostly from free kicks.

Left the Hawks in April 2009 to pursue his career elsewhere.

Eastleigh 1-0 Worcester City

EASTLEIGH v WORCESTER CITY

SATURDAY 18th APRIL 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh are now guaranteed at least a third place league finish following today’s home win at the hands of former Saints defender Richard Dryden’s Worcester City.

Anthony Riviere made an extremely welcome return to action for the first time since the end of February following a troublesome groin injury. Brett Williams was preferred to Matt Groves up front, whilst Tony Taggart came back into the starting line up at the expense of Steve Clark following the Bank Holiday Monday defeat to already relegated Bognor Regis. Gavin Heeroo was suspended for today’s game, whilst Jamie Brown was held back once more to ensure the target man didn’t pick up another booking which would have stopped him from playing in the playoffs.

The visitors started the brighter of the two sides pushing forward early on and getting the ball to the skilful Marco Adaggio at every opportunity. Towering left-back Kevin Spencer was also posing one or two problems with his Rory Delap like throw ins that were launched into the Eastleigh penalty area time after time in the opening ten minutes.

Ashley Carew’s second minute cross had just too much on it as he swung the ball in from the right wing, whilst a Spencer throw for City saw Bampton slice a shot harmlessly over the cross bar soon after.

Adaggio combined with Matt Dinsmore in the seventh minute to set the winger free to the left of goal only to be denied by Eastleigh stopper Jason Matthews who was out well to save.

Better play from the Spitfires saw a good spell of football as the hosts began to use the width and get the ball down to pass neatly as the hosts went on to break the deadlock.

Midfielder Peter Adeniyi sprayed the ball out wide to Carew on the counter attack though his cross was collected by Daniel McDonnell ahead of Jonny Dixon. Taggart then had an in-swinging corner punched away by the visiting keeper as Eastleigh continued to press.

With thirteen minutes played, a Luke Byles throw from the left was flicked on by the skipper Tom Jordan into the path of Adeniyi who had made room for the shot from 8 yards out. Peter fired towards goal with his weaker left foot and wasn’t all that far from finding the net.

Eastleigh came even close a minute later when Aaron Martin got up well to nod a downward header from a Carew corner towards goal that had to be hooked away by the well-placed Craig Wilding who made a crucial goal line clearance to avert the danger and save a goal.

Making the pressure and possession count, Eastleigh found a way through in the 18^th minute through an elegant move. Taggart’s left foot cross from the right wing was flicked on perfectly by Brett Williams to the back post where ASHLEY CAREW stole in to tap home from close range.

Rob Davies hit a 30-yard free kick straight at Matthews in the 29^th minute, before Adeniyi worked his magic with the ball at his feet easing past two defenders at the other end of the pitch as if they weren’t even there. The former Bromley player’s shot with the outside of his boot had to be blocked and booted clear to safety.

Taggart had a good opportunity to double Eastleigh’s advantage when a Carew free kick from deep dropped to the unmarked winger on the far side of the Worcester penalty area. Leaning back slightly however, the Spitfires top goal scorer couldn’t keep his shot down and scooped his half volley high over the bar.

Ten minutes before the break Oliver Barnes curled a free kick over the Eastleigh wall and away to Matthews left with an effort that was heading for the top corner. Eastleigh’s number one was more than equal to the fine attempt as he shuffled across goal to not only get there and keep it out but also displaying his fine goalkeeping skills by catching the ball and keeping it safe in his possession.

The next action saw Riviere played into the penalty area as Taggart slipped a splendid through ball behind the Worcester back line to create a chance for the box-to-box midfielder. Coming to Worcester’s rescue, certainly not for the first time it has to be said, McDonnell came off his line to sweep up and block Riviere’s goal-bound attempt.

Continuing to press long into the half with their one goal advantage, Eastleigh threatened again in the 39^th minute. A teasing cross from Byles beat all of the City defenders and dropped dangerously at the feet of Taggart who dragged a shot from 20 yards across goal and comfortably wide.

Adaggio failed to trouble Matthews with a powerless header four minutes before the break and soon after the diminutive yet tricky striker weaved his way into the Eastleigh penalty area to the left of goal but as he approached and looked set to pull the trigger in came an outstanding sliding challenge from young Aaron Martin who just continues to go from strength to strength.

On the stroke of half time Williams was denied by McDonnell who again came out quickly to block and save his side from going in at the break further behind.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 1–0 Worcester City

A minute after the restart the 648 in attendance so nearly witnessed a beautiful strike from Jonny Dixon picking out the top corner with a super strike from 30 yards that curled just the wrong side of the post at the last second.

Still inside the opening minutes of the second half Tony Taggart caught the ball full on the volley with a stunning effort oozing power. McDonnell continued to impress as the keeper held the ball to make a difficult save look relatively easy.

Ian Baird certainly had Eastleigh in the right frame of mind for the second half as they approached the remainder of the game seemingly hungry for goals. Evidence of this was there for all to see after excellent approach play and intricate one touch football led to a big chance to enhance their lead as Riviere played a killer ball into Williams. The youngster had the ball in an excellent position in front of goal and should have done better to round off the move, instead lifting his shot off target and wayward from 10 yards out.

Williams used his pace to get on the end of a through ball down the right flank in the 54^th minute and open up another opportunity for himself. This time Brett went to dink the ball over the keeper who was having none of it and again kept his side in with a chance at 1-0 standing to tall to deny the 21-year-old.

Two minutes shy of the hour, a cross from the right by the left-peg of Taggart saw Williams leap well at the far post as he headed behind.

Taggart then came close by beating his man and drilling the ball through the legs of two players towards the bottom right hand corner of goal. You probably had already guessed it, McDonnell was there to make the save and keep out the powerfully driven shot at full stretch.

The Spitfires showed no let up in their constant force in front of goal creating endless chances and looking dangerous but the all too familiar recurring theme throughout the game was the only thing to have kept them back and keep the score down to just one goal.

This rung true once more when Taggart played the ball into Riviere inside the 6-yard box and the former Fisher Athletic midfielder watched as his first shot was kept out by the keeper, only to get up and pounce on the rebound and fire wide of the mark – credit to McDonnell who had narrowed the angle and given Riviere little to aim at.

Worcester did provide Eastleigh with a little scare or a wake up call to show that there were in fact two teams in this game after all when Matt Dinsmore (looking suspiciously offside) in the 66^th minute latched on to a long ball over the top and with the flag staying down, Jason Matthews was there at the edge of his box to deflect the shot away from danger.

On 74 minutes Eastleigh had their greatest chance yet to make it 2-0. Tom Jordan showed the qualities of a winger when he crossed from the right to find Williams who with the goal gaping and at his mercy opted to attack the high ball with his foot instead of his head resulting in the ball flying over the bar when it was easier to score.

Trevor Challis replaced Riviere for Eastleigh’s first substitution of the game late on and soon after Jonny Dixon in his last game for the club at the Silverlake Stadium (due to his loan from Brighton running out ahead of the playoffs) made way for Matt Groves with 83 minutes on the clock.

There was still time for one last Spitfires push to make it two when excellent feet from Adeniyi saw the big man elegantly step over the ball before slipping the ball to his left to find Taggart in space. For one last time in the game Daniel McDonnell thwarted the hosts with a brave save at the feet of Taggart, but this time the ball bounced back up conveniently for Adeniyi who nodded narrowly over the cross bar.

A 1-0 score line doesn’t quite tell the whole story of Eastleigh’s superior quality and dominance on the day and quite frankly flattered Worcester, however it was a positive attacking display and the perfect way to respond after the Bognor defeat as Matthews and his defence kept another clean sheet and send Baird’s side into the Havant & Waterlooville showdown next week on the back of a solid win.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 1–0 Worcester City

Match pictures by Jozef Montigue

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Winning run comes to an end at relegated Bognor

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN v EASTLEIGH

MONDAY 13th APRIL 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Ray Murphy

Eastleigh visited the already relegated Bognor Regis Town for this Bank Holiday Monday Blue Square South fixture and manager Ian Baird made two changes to the side that had beaten Bromley by a single goal three days earlier. Jamie Brown was rested from the squad all together whilst Warren Goodhind returned from injury with Tony Taggart taking a place on the bench. Steve Clark moved forward to a midfield role whilst Matt Groves was given the role of leading the front line. Bognor Regis included ex-Eastleigh players Nathan Lynch, Jack Smith and Danny Smith.

The first half was very disappointing. Bognor winger Louie Castles caused Eastleigh concern on the right flank whilst diminutive striker Jahson Downes often popped up in good positions in and around the area. The first strike on goal did not arrive until the eighteenth minute then it was a long range Danny Smith free kick that was saved by Jason Matthews. Eastleigh broke immediately to the opposite end where Ashley Carew cut in from the right flank but his low left foot shot was saved by Bognor goalkeeper Anthony Ender.

On the half hour Steve Clark’s driven cross cum shot saw Ender readjust himself to be able to push the ball over the bar and two further half chances arrived before the interval. Carew's thirty-five yard shot was just off target whilst right on the interval Clark’s in-swinging corner was clawed away from under the bar by Ender.

Jonny Dixon had an effort just off target for Eastleigh three minutes after the break but the home side were just about to give Eastleigh some warnings. On fifty minutes Tom Jordan’s header back to Matthews fell short and Downes collected the ball. Downes went round Matthews but the Eastleigh keeper did enough to recover and scuff Downes shot away for a corner.

Two minutes later again Downes caused trouble, this time his weak shot was falling into the arms of Matthews, Lynch reacted and slid in to take the ball and bundle over the line but fortunately for Eastleigh, referee Nigel Lugg awarded a free kick to Matthews and disallowed the ‘goal’.

Eastleigh had an opportunity on fifty-five minutes Matthews’ long punted free kick from deep inside his own half was headed just over the bar by Jordan, but three minutes later Eastleigh went behind. A right wing Castle corner was flicked on by Lynch and Danny Smith’s shot took a hefty deflection off an Eastleigh defender leaving Matthews wrong-footed and Bognor were ahead.

Eastleigh put more urgency in to their play. Clark was withdrawn for Taggart but Eastleigh were struggling to break through the Bognor rearguard well marshalled by skipper Seb Wallis-Taylor. On sixty-five minutes Taggart headed a Goodhind cross wide and six minutes later Carew saw his rasping shot strike the post.

On seventy-four minutes Carew’s cross-field pass found Goodhind who guided the ball into the path of Peter Adeniyi. Adeniyi flicked the ball across goal and Bognor managed to clear their lines. Bognor were finding themselves chances as Eastleigh pushed forward leaving themselves short in defence.

Lynch acrobatically turned the ball wide when inside the six-yard box on eighty minutes whilst as the game drifted towards a conclusion Taggart had a shot saved by Ender. In stoppage time Dixon turned the ball over and with the final action of the game Jordan saw a header palmed over by Ender, there being no time to take the awarded corner.

The result ended Eastleigh’s run of six successive league victories and was only Bognor’s fifth home victory of the season, all thanks to a goal from a full time employee of Eastleigh Football Club, Danny Smith who works for their Community Football Office.

Three more Eastleigh points make for a Good Friday!

EASTLEIGH v BROMLEY

FRIDAY 10th APRIL 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Jamie Montigue

Having already secured a playoff place in what has proved to be Eastleigh’s best season at this level of football, Ian Baird’s side still have all to play for to keep the pressure on both Hampton & Richmond and AFC Wimbledon at the head of the Blue Square South.

On this Bank Holiday Good Friday, Eastleigh welcomed the visit of Bromley and looked to avenge their early season 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Lilywhites.

Naming an unchanged starting eleven from last weekend’s fantastic 4-3 win at Bishops Stortford, the Spitfires first at Woodside Park, the Spitfires came into this fixture on the back of five successive league wins and looked to extend that run to six.

For the hosts it was extremely pleasing to see box-to-box midfielder Anthony Riviere back in the squad after a troublesome groin injury that has kept the fans favourite out of action for over a month. Even though he was an unused substitute today, Riviere could prove to play a key role in the remaining games.

The first chance of the game came from a near side throw in that was flicked on by Jamie Brown into the path of Peter Adeniyi who stroked a shot marginally wide of goal in the third minute.

A couple of minutes later, neat interplay from Eastleigh saw Jonny Dixon work the ball to Brown who in turn found Ashley Carew to his right. The former Barnet winger’s effort was kept out at the near post by Gareth Williams.

Eastleigh continued to exert the early pressure forcing two corners in quick succession. From their second set piece within a matter of seconds, Carew’s delivery to the far post was helped on by Aaron Martin at the far post. It looked inevitable that Dixon would punish Bromley as he reacted quickest to the loose ball inside the six yard box, but couldn’t quite connect with his close range shot.

Looking dangerous on the counter attack, Bromley broke quickly down the left with the ball at the feet of Ashley-Paul Robinson who whipped the ball into the box and only just beyond Adrian Stone.

What proved to be the defining moment in the game arrived with just ten minutes on the clock. Jamie Brown hassled and hurried in front of goal to bundle his way through into a goal scoring opportunity, at which point Aaron Fray took his legs away from behind just as the action man was about to pull the trigger. Referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot and brandished a straight red card as he applied the letter of the law correctly to the culprit, who was the last man and had to take an early bath.

Taking full advantage of the situation was Eastleigh’s top goal scorer TONY TAGGART who confidently despatched the spot kick, smashing the ball to the keeper’s left for his fifth league goal from the last six games.

Ryan Hill caught the ball clean on the volley in the 23^rd minute only to see Brown back to keep the stinging effort away from goal with a brave sliding challenge.

Despite playing with one less man, Bromley had come right back into the fray after Eastleigh’s extremely bright start.

Ten minutes before the break Ashley Carew broke away up the field at pace as he ran half the length of the pitch, beat his man and curled a side-foot effort straight at Williams.

In the next minute, Brown played Carew in on goal with a neat, threaded pass but this time Bromley were saved by their skipper Rob Gillman who came to his side’s rescue with an outstanding sliding challenge in the nick of time to prevent Eastleigh from doubling their advantage before the break.

Eastleigh began to settle a little more and finished the half on the front foot. Carew left his marker for dead, tormenting Mark Corneille by beating him not once or twice but an incredible three times leaving his marker on his backside before passing to Brown. Brown then chipped the ball out to the right to switch the play by finding Gavin Heeroo on the edge of the penalty area, though from a decent position the hard-working midfielder miscued a volley.

On the stroke of half time, Brown forced his way through into the area by muscling two defenders off the ball before firing in a shot that clattered off the keeper and out for a corner as Eastleigh held a slender lead at the break.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 1-0 Bromley

An impressive 937 was the official attendance to be announced shortly after the restart in the far from perfect conditions of cold and rain.

The next goal at this stage would be very important and, should one come, it could have a huge bearing on how the rest of the game pans out.

As it was, the football was far from pretty and you couldn’t quite see where it would come from as neither keeper had been tested for so long. Far too many passes were going astray from either side and the encounter had withered away into a gritty midfield battle with very limited goalmouth action.

Three minutes shy of the hour; Jonny Dixon burst through the middle and fed the ball through for Jamie Brown. Williams came out to meet the centre forward and went down like he had been shot when in reality Brown made little or no contact with the goalkeeper. As a result of this little episode, the referee punished Brown with a harsh yellow card.

Bromley came closest to troubling the scorers in the 66^th minute when the unusual and unfamiliar sight of indecision as well as poor communication inside the Eastleigh penalty area, allowed the visitors a free shot at goal. The ball dropped dangerously to the edge of the area as two white shirts went for the same ball and failed to clear their lines sufficiently when Ryan Hall picked it up well lashing in a half volley with good technique – an effort that whistled past the post with Jason Matthews rooted to the spot. This rare occurrence from the Eastleigh back line could have proved costly but they survived despite looking shaky and went on to record their fourteenth league clean sheet of the season.

Ashley-Paul Robinson sized up a free kick on 68 minutes but failed to trouble Matthews, before Dixon played a short pass to Carew at the opposite end with the end product from a tight angle covered well by the goalkeeper.

Fifteen minutes from time, Brown and Adeniyi combined to good effect for the Spitfires as Williams, alert to the threat, rushed off his line to smother the ball and keep the hosts out once more.

Adeniyi ran through but blazed high over the cross bar as he latched on to a further through ball from Brown in the 80^th minute, whilst a testing 20-yard shot from Aaron Dalhouse brought a save out of Matthews.

Substitute Brett Williams so nearly concluded the win four minutes later after a sublime, inch-perfect pass behind the defence from Gavin Heeroo saw the fresh legs of Williams nip in and drag a shot agonisingly wide but just an inch or too.

Former Spitfire Warren McBean failed to capitalise on a missed interception from Luke Byles as he squandered a glorious opportunity to level by snatching at his shot and lofting the ball harmlessly behind.

Eastleigh’s second substitute Matt Groves was impressively lively in his cameo performance in the closing stages of the game and the experienced striker had one shot deflected behind for a corner, before coming even closer when receiving the ball from Adeniyi a second time. Picking the ball up to the right of goal, Groves hit the ball sweetly with an early, clean driven strike that swerved away to the keeper’s right and had to be pushed around the post by Williams to prevent a second Eastleigh goal.

Jamie Brown nodded wide from a 90^th minute Ashley Carew corner, before Brett Williams did all the hard work on the far side to beat a couple of defenders and make room for the shot only to make a weak connection.

Four additional minutes of time were added on and again it was Eastleigh and Matt Groves who came closest during the last of the action, as the former Dorchester and Lewes striker picked up on a short back pass and forced one last save out of Williams.

Eastleigh’s sixth consecutive league win meant that the Spitfires occupied second place at the close of play, with Hampton & Richmond not playing until tomorrow.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 1–0 Bromley

Match pictures by Jozef Montigue

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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.