All square in entertaining derby - Havant 2-2 Eastleigh
HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 2-2 EASTLEIGH
MONDAY 30th AUGUST 2010
Blue Square Bet South
Report by Ray Murphy
Eastleigh brought a deserved point back down the M27 despite two equalising goals both scored in stoppage times at the end of each half. The result meaning that Eastleigh have still not recorded a victory at West Leigh Park. The injury situation was not improving with Richard Gillespie failing a late fitness test which meant a start for young midfielder Chris Mason, the side therefore remaining the same that finished against Weston Super Mare forty-eight hours earlier. It meant that manager Ian Baird returned to his former Club as a named substitute as well as his managerial role.
Havant had the first opportunity with the impressive Mustafa Tiryaki controlling a ball into the area from Ian Selley, Tiryaki seeing his effort saved by Gareth Barfoot on nine minutes. Three minutes later and Brett Williams capitalised on Havant failing to clear their lines from a free kick but home goalkeeper Aaron Howe produced a fine stop to deny the striker.
Liam Sewell had a header from a corner saved by Barfoot on twenty-one minutes then a minute later an acrobatic attempt from Jamie Slabber was blocked away for a corner. Warren Goodhind's free kick on twenty-four minutes was flicked on by Jamie Brown but Tom Jordan headed over the bar.
The home side went ahead on twenty-eight minutes. Tiryaki was surrounded by Eastleigh defenders inside the area to deny the striker a shot, other Havant team mates arrived to help Tiryaki out, The ball broke loose from the melee allowing Wes Fogden to roll the ball into the path of the unmarked Sammy Igoe who gave Barfoot no chance with a powerful drive into the back of the net.
Havant were unfortunate not to add to their score on thirty-nine minutes when Tiryaki headed an Igoe cross wide with the goal at his mercy. On the stroke of half time Richard Graham's free kick saw Chris Holland head against the post. In the second minute of first half stoppage time another searching ball was played into the Havant area, Brown going towards the ball fell to the floor under the challenge from Bobby Hopkinson and referee Charles Breakspear awarded Eastleigh a penalty. Ex-Havant striker Slabber made no mistake from 12-yards.
On forty-nine minutes the home side almost regained the lead. Sewell headed Selley's free kick towards goal but somehow Barfoot managed to stop the ball going over the line from Sam Pearce. A minute later a Graham free kick at the opposite end brought another header from Holland, which was saved by Howe.
Havant forced a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions which saw Barfoot first save from Tiryaki and then Igoe fire just past the post. On sixty-five minutes for Eastleigh Williams turned his defender but his shot from outside the area was saved by Howe.
Havant brought on their striker Manny Williams as they went in search of their first victory of the season and on seventy five minutes, Williams got himself on the end of a looping Igoe cross for a free header but only managed to steer the ball back across the face of goal without troubling Barfoot. Three minutes later the stretching Tiryaki failed to convert a Williams cross.
With ten minutes remaining Slabber headed a Graham cross back for a Holland volley that went just over the bar. Havant though regained the lead on eighty-three minutes. Some twenty-yards from goal Tiryaki thundered a free kick through the defensive wall into the roof of the net giving Barfoot no chance.
Eastleigh went straight back into attack and did grab an equaliser this time with ninety-three minutes on the clock. Graham's corner saw Holland determinedly getting his head on the ball to power a header past Howe to atone for his own goal header in the previous fixture.
Havant still had a chance to gain all three points a minute later but Barfoot tipped a header from Tiryaki over the bar. An entertaining local derby for the 1020 attendance.
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