Thurrock halt Eastleigh's unbeaten run
THURROCK v EASTLEIGH
SATURDAY 29th JANUARY 2011
Blue Square Bet South
Report by Ray Murphy
With Gareth Barfoot, Warren Goodhind and Luke Byles on the injury list for this match at Thurrock, it meant a recall for goalkeeper Jason Matthews for his first league start since mid November, Danny Smith being retained at right back and the versatile Ross Bottomley filling in, in the left back role. Returning new signing Neil Sharp took his place on the bench along with the recalled Fred Toomer from Romsey Town. Brett Poate was also declared fit to join the substitutes.
Despite hovering in the lower section of the league table, Thurrock were themselves on a good run of form which had seen their new manager Grant Gordon on a run prior to the fixture - of four matches unbeaten; (three of which were victories that had seen good results against promotion play off hopefuls Ebbsfleet United and Welling United).
Eastleigh were off to a good start and were ahead after only eleven minutes. Tony Taggart's free kick was headed down by Chris Holland and Jamie Slabber tucked the ball under the Thurrock goalkeeper Joe Woolley.
There were not many chances created after that on a bitterly cold afternoon with the work rate of Eastleigh giving them the upper hand over their hosts. On twenty-three minutes Slabber raced away on to an Anthony Riviere threaded pass and with the Thurrock defence looking in vain for an offside flag saw Slabber have his effort saved by Woolley.
Thurrock were working hard on getting their known game plan together and on twenty-three minutes Jamie Richards' cross saw ex-Eastleigh winger Matt Bodkin produce a half volley that was just over the bar. The home side were starting to gain more possession and grabbed an equaliser on thirty-three minutes. Bodkin's cross saw Matthews push the ball out of the six-yard area but only on to the head of Kenny Clarke to guide the ball back into the net.
Eastleigh looked to regain their lead and had three chances before the end of the first half. With thirty-four minutes played Taggart saw his shot deflected for a corner, three minutes later from Shaun McAuley’s cross, Richard Graham shot wide. With five minutes to go to the interval, Tom Jordan saw his header from a Graham cross hit the bar.
The second half was a much more open affair. Slabbers pass three minutes into the half saw McAuley produce a shot, which was saved by Woolley. On fifty-four minutes Thurrock full back Lee Flynn had a shot from the edge of the area which took a wicked deflection off Riviere leaving Matthews wrong footed but the shot went wide.
McAuley had a long range shot saved by Woolley on fifty-nine minutes whilst two minutes later Taggart’s free kick from the edge of the area was deflected for a corner. A minute later McAuley had a low angled shot again saved by Woolley.
Thurrock made two substitutions bringing into the game the speedy, tricky winger Joe Carlos and burly striker Paul Olima, both who quickly marked their arrival to the game. On sixty-six minutes Bodkin's free kick saw Olima head just wide of the target and two minutes later from another Bodkin delivery Richards had his header saved by Matthews.
Another rising drive from Richards brought another stop by Matthews as Thurrock were having the better of the exchanges at this part of the game. With seventy-eight minutes played disaster struck for Eastleigh. A free kick into the area from Craig Pope struck the hand of the jumping Holland leaving referee Carl Fitch no hesitation in awarding Thurrock a penalty. Richards duly despatched, sending Matthews the wrong way with his spot kick.
Eastleigh tried all they could to get something from the game pressurising their hosts till the final minutes in an attempt to earn an equaliser leaving themselves open at the defence as they pressed forward. Taggart saw two efforts go close as their best opportunities of salvaging a point. Instead it was a very dejected looking Eastleigh side as they left the pitch disappointed at having their run of six successive league victories and unbeaten in twelve games (with the exception of the Hampshire Senior Cup tie) brought to an abrupt halt.
Despite hovering in the lower section of the league table, Thurrock were themselves on a good run of form which had seen their new manager Grant Gordon on a run prior to the fixture - of four matches unbeaten; (three of which were victories that had seen good results against promotion play off hopefuls Ebbsfleet United and Welling United).
Eastleigh were off to a good start and were ahead after only eleven minutes. Tony Taggart's free kick was headed down by Chris Holland and Jamie Slabber tucked the ball under the Thurrock goalkeeper Joe Woolley.
There were not many chances created after that on a bitterly cold afternoon with the work rate of Eastleigh giving them the upper hand over their hosts. On twenty-three minutes Slabber raced away on to an Anthony Riviere threaded pass and with the Thurrock defence looking in vain for an offside flag saw Slabber have his effort saved by Woolley.
Thurrock were working hard on getting their known game plan together and on twenty-three minutes Jamie Richards' cross saw ex-Eastleigh winger Matt Bodkin produce a half volley that was just over the bar. The home side were starting to gain more possession and grabbed an equaliser on thirty-three minutes. Bodkin's cross saw Matthews push the ball out of the six-yard area but only on to the head of Kenny Clarke to guide the ball back into the net.
Eastleigh looked to regain their lead and had three chances before the end of the first half. With thirty-four minutes played Taggart saw his shot deflected for a corner, three minutes later from Shaun McAuley’s cross, Richard Graham shot wide. With five minutes to go to the interval, Tom Jordan saw his header from a Graham cross hit the bar.
The second half was a much more open affair. Slabbers pass three minutes into the half saw McAuley produce a shot, which was saved by Woolley. On fifty-four minutes Thurrock full back Lee Flynn had a shot from the edge of the area which took a wicked deflection off Riviere leaving Matthews wrong footed but the shot went wide.
McAuley had a long range shot saved by Woolley on fifty-nine minutes whilst two minutes later Taggart’s free kick from the edge of the area was deflected for a corner. A minute later McAuley had a low angled shot again saved by Woolley.
Thurrock made two substitutions bringing into the game the speedy, tricky winger Joe Carlos and burly striker Paul Olima, both who quickly marked their arrival to the game. On sixty-six minutes Bodkin's free kick saw Olima head just wide of the target and two minutes later from another Bodkin delivery Richards had his header saved by Matthews.
Another rising drive from Richards brought another stop by Matthews as Thurrock were having the better of the exchanges at this part of the game. With seventy-eight minutes played disaster struck for Eastleigh. A free kick into the area from Craig Pope struck the hand of the jumping Holland leaving referee Carl Fitch no hesitation in awarding Thurrock a penalty. Richards duly despatched, sending Matthews the wrong way with his spot kick.
Eastleigh tried all they could to get something from the game pressurising their hosts till the final minutes in an attempt to earn an equaliser leaving themselves open at the defence as they pressed forward. Taggart saw two efforts go close as their best opportunities of salvaging a point. Instead it was a very dejected looking Eastleigh side as they left the pitch disappointed at having their run of six successive league victories and unbeaten in twelve games (with the exception of the Hampshire Senior Cup tie) brought to an abrupt halt.
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