Beavers 4-1 Spitfires
HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH v EASTLEIGH
SATURDAY 20th MARCH 2010
Blue Square South
SATURDAY 20th MARCH 2010
Blue Square South
Report by Ray Murphy
Hampton & Richmond Borough had only recorded one victory from their last seven home fixtures which was the previous Tuesday evening against Bath city, whilst Eastleigh arrived at The Beveree Stadium on the success of three away victories despite their own dreadful home form of late. In eight previous matches between the two clubs though Eastleigh had only scored one victory and that was on their own soil and Eastleigh have never recorded a victory at Hampton.
Manager Ian Baird made some changes to the personnel that had lost their last game at home to Welling. Jason Matthews returned in goal after a three-match absence, Aaron Cook was at the centre of the defence with Warren Goodhind being ill. Sam Butler was recalled to the side, which started with an attacking three front-runners formation of Richard Gillespie, Butler and Tony Taggart. There was also the welcome sight of the return of Neil Sharp to the squad taking his place on the bench following his recent illness.
The end result though saw Hampton gain their second home success in a week and virtually ending the Eastleigh chances of making the play off positions, though stranger things have happened. This was though a somewhat flattering scoreline for the home side that had their score tally assisted by two penalty conversions, one of which was fortuitous for the home side.
Manager Ian Baird made some changes to the personnel that had lost their last game at home to Welling. Jason Matthews returned in goal after a three-match absence, Aaron Cook was at the centre of the defence with Warren Goodhind being ill. Sam Butler was recalled to the side, which started with an attacking three front-runners formation of Richard Gillespie, Butler and Tony Taggart. There was also the welcome sight of the return of Neil Sharp to the squad taking his place on the bench following his recent illness.
The end result though saw Hampton gain their second home success in a week and virtually ending the Eastleigh chances of making the play off positions, though stranger things have happened. This was though a somewhat flattering scoreline for the home side that had their score tally assisted by two penalty conversions, one of which was fortuitous for the home side.
Having had the majority of possession for the opening period of the game it was somewhat of a surprise that Eastleigh went behind on eight minutes. Dean Wells’ free kick deep into the area allowed Craig Dundas to fire a low drive past Matthews to give Hampton the lead.
Even after the opening goal Eastleigh still had the better of the possession, They came close on eighteen minutes Richard Gillespie having a long range effort saved by Matt Lovett. Sam Butler was causing the Hampton rearguard concern and midway through the opening half a driven cross from Butler was headed by Gillespie to which Lovett clawed the ball away only for Tony Taggart to shoot the loose ball goalward but the keeper scrambled across his line to make the second save.
Three minutes later and instead of being level Eastleigh were two goals behind. Ian Hodges having been in an offside position in the first phase of play suddenly found himself allowed to play on in the next phase. Hodges then fell over the outstretched leg of Luke Wilkinson outside of the area but referee Mr M Yerby adjudged the foul to have been inside the area and a penalty was awarded. Dave Tarpey sent Matthews the wrong way from the spot.
On twenty-nine minutes a last ditch saving tackle by Wilkinson on Lawrence Yaku stopped the Hampton striker having a goal scoring opportunity. Two minutes later another deep left flank cross by Craig Tanner fell in behind Brett Poate but Hodges’ shot was saved by Matthews. As play broke to the other end Butler fired a warning with another long range left footed drive just wide of the target.
Hampton should have heeded that warning as on forty-two minutes Butler had reduced the deficit. Butler curled a left foot drive from the right flank that bounced in the six-yard box just outside the reach of Gillespie and Lovett and the ball nestled into the side of the net.
Even after the opening goal Eastleigh still had the better of the possession, They came close on eighteen minutes Richard Gillespie having a long range effort saved by Matt Lovett. Sam Butler was causing the Hampton rearguard concern and midway through the opening half a driven cross from Butler was headed by Gillespie to which Lovett clawed the ball away only for Tony Taggart to shoot the loose ball goalward but the keeper scrambled across his line to make the second save.
Three minutes later and instead of being level Eastleigh were two goals behind. Ian Hodges having been in an offside position in the first phase of play suddenly found himself allowed to play on in the next phase. Hodges then fell over the outstretched leg of Luke Wilkinson outside of the area but referee Mr M Yerby adjudged the foul to have been inside the area and a penalty was awarded. Dave Tarpey sent Matthews the wrong way from the spot.
On twenty-nine minutes a last ditch saving tackle by Wilkinson on Lawrence Yaku stopped the Hampton striker having a goal scoring opportunity. Two minutes later another deep left flank cross by Craig Tanner fell in behind Brett Poate but Hodges’ shot was saved by Matthews. As play broke to the other end Butler fired a warning with another long range left footed drive just wide of the target.
Hampton should have heeded that warning as on forty-two minutes Butler had reduced the deficit. Butler curled a left foot drive from the right flank that bounced in the six-yard box just outside the reach of Gillespie and Lovett and the ball nestled into the side of the net.
It was Eastleigh in the ascendancy without doubt till the interval Butler saw another effort just off target, though in first half stoppage time Tarpey dispossessed Peter Adeniyi in the middle of the park but Tarpey dragged his shot wide of the target.
With the wind in their favour Hampton started the second period with a few chances though Eastleigh were seeing plenty of the ball but without being able to penetrate the Hampton defence. Four minutes into the second period a low free kick from Tarpey was saved by Matthews and shortly after again Matthews had to deny Yaku.
Butler saw another low driven free kick saved by Lovett whilst on sixty-eight minutes Ashley Nicholls was relieved to see his deflection from Tarpey's cross go wide. Eastleigh came closest to equalising on seventy-three minutes. Anthony Riviere’s curling shot from the edge of the area was heading towards the top corner of the net but the leaping Wells cleared the ball off the line with his header. Two minutes later and Matthews was quickly off his line to save at the feet of Tarpey.
Hampton added their third goal on seventy-six minutes. Given time on the edge of the area Stuart Lake hammered a shot that hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down and into the net. Two minutes later and Eastleigh conceded another. Matthews was again off his line to make a save at the feet of Ashley Quashie but referee Yerby adjudged that Matthews had clipped the strikers heels and awarded the second penalty of the afternoon. Tarpey slotted home his second penalty.
With the wind in their favour Hampton started the second period with a few chances though Eastleigh were seeing plenty of the ball but without being able to penetrate the Hampton defence. Four minutes into the second period a low free kick from Tarpey was saved by Matthews and shortly after again Matthews had to deny Yaku.
Butler saw another low driven free kick saved by Lovett whilst on sixty-eight minutes Ashley Nicholls was relieved to see his deflection from Tarpey's cross go wide. Eastleigh came closest to equalising on seventy-three minutes. Anthony Riviere’s curling shot from the edge of the area was heading towards the top corner of the net but the leaping Wells cleared the ball off the line with his header. Two minutes later and Matthews was quickly off his line to save at the feet of Tarpey.
Hampton added their third goal on seventy-six minutes. Given time on the edge of the area Stuart Lake hammered a shot that hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down and into the net. Two minutes later and Eastleigh conceded another. Matthews was again off his line to make a save at the feet of Ashley Quashie but referee Yerby adjudged that Matthews had clipped the strikers heels and awarded the second penalty of the afternoon. Tarpey slotted home his second penalty.
Hampton had chances to score further goals as Dundas had a shot saved by Matthews and Lake saw a header strike the bar. To sum up Eastleigh’s afternoon with only five minutes remaining skipper for the day Aaron Cook blazed a chance high when in the six-yard box.
Although still mathematically possible, Eastleigh now have a mountain to climb to get into the play off positions with only six games remaining and apart from their own form rely on other sides losing matches.
Although still mathematically possible, Eastleigh now have a mountain to climb to get into the play off positions with only six games remaining and apart from their own form rely on other sides losing matches.
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