Sholing 1-2 Eastleigh

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SHOLING v EASTLEIGH
TUESDAY 26th JULY 2011

Pre-Season Friendly

Report by Jamie Montigue

EASTLEIGH: Mike Green, Billy Tsovolos, Ross Bottomley (Liam Hibberd 70), Jamie Brown (Ben Wilson 53), Tom Jordan (c), Andy Forbes, Jack Boyle (Sam Wilson 66), Danny Smith, Jamie Slabber, Jordan Rose (Ryan O'Hara 59), Andrew White.  

Unused Subs: Gareth Barfoot, Jack Vallis, Gary Pride.

Ian Baird's side beat Sholing by two goals to one at Portsmouth Road this evening thanks to a penalty kick in either half. 

Jamie Slabber opened the scoring for the Spitfires a minute before half time before Barry Mason hit back early in the second half to equalise for the hosts. Eastleigh had the final say in this friendly (which they deserved to win) thanks to a second penalty; this time courtesy of Andrew White who converted twenty minutes from time.

In goal for the Spitfires was ex-Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Mike Green and in front of him was a back four consisting of Portsmouth FC's Billy Tsovolos at right back with Tom Jordan and former Stockport County towering defender/midfielder Jordan Rose at centre half and Ross Bottomley at left back.

Jersey-born winger Jack Boyle, who had a stint with Southampton Under-18's and Reserves in the 2009/9 season, played on the right of a midfield four. Andy Forbes started off on the left of midfield but went on to operate at centre half and left-back throughout the course of the game. Experienced duo Jamie Brown and Danny Smith played the centre midfield roles.

Jamie Slabber and ex-Gillingham young pro Andrew White lead the attack for the Spitfires tonight.

From the outset Mike Green had an excellent game in goal for the Spitfires looking highly competent and confident making a string of important saves to stake his claim for a contract with the club. In the third minute, Green denied an early chance from Sholing who had carved an opening and clear sight at goal only to be kept out.

Sholing had the better of the chances in a scrappy opening half with former Eastleigh attacker Kevin Gibbens and Ian Seabrook both forcing Green into further saves.

The referee didn't particularly allow the game to flow, instead opting to disrupt the tempo of the match by blowing his whistle far too often.

It wasn't until the 44th minute that the deadlock was broken when Jordan Rose was pushed in the back inside the 18-yard box. A penalty was awarded, which JAMIE SLABBER duly scored by sending the goalkeeper Lee Webber the wrong way and finding the net in comprehensive fashion.

HALF TIME: Sholing 0-1 Eastleigh

After the break, Ian Seabrook sent a free kick up and over the Eastleigh wall with a curling effort that had to be kept out well by a low diving stop from the impressive Mike Green.

Green then denied Sholing a golden opportunity to score after a missed interception by Billy Tsovolos let the home side clean through on goal only for the Eastleigh keeper to make an important save.

In the 57th minute, Jamie Slabber saw his header fly narrowly over the cross bar following a corner kick from Jack Boyle.

Shortly after the hour mark, BARRY MASON drew the scores level with an equalising goal as he pounced on a loose ball to stab home after Green could only parry a powerful shot into the on-coming forward's path.

Eastleigh ended the game strongly and were awarded their second penalty of the game when Andrew White spun his marker only to be tripped just inside the area. ANDREW WHITE stepped up to the spot and despatched the ball into the bottom right hand corner of goal with a confident penalty to restore Eastleigh's lead.

Jamie Slabber linked up with Ryan O'Hara in the 77th minute with a chipped pass to the back post. O'Hara's volley flew comfortably over the bar.

A minute later Sholing's Seabrook had another free kick well-saved by Green who tipped the on-target effort around the post. The Eastleigh keeper then saved a header from the resulting corner.

With the game coming to a close, O'Hara cut in from the right and struck a left-foot shot against the inside of the post where he was unlucky not to extend the Spitfires' lead further.

The last of the action saw Jamie Slabber's turn and shot from 20-yards fall just off target.

A good work-out for Eastleigh and some promising performances from the players to give Ian Baird food for thought ahead of the coming season. 

As well as Ryan O'Hara - Sam Wilson, Ben Wilson and Liam Hibberd also played some part in the second half coming on as subsitutes and performed well.

FULL TIME: Sholing 1-2 Eastleigh
Sholing - 260711

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