Solid Spitfires display ensures back-to-back wins
EASTLEIGH 2-1 WESTON-SUPER-MARE
MONDAY 29th AUGUST 2011
Blue Square Bet South
MONDAY 29th AUGUST 2011
Blue Square Bet South
Match report by Jamie Montigue
Eastleigh secured back-to-back victories on this Bank Holiday Monday as Ian Baird's side ground out a solid 2-1 home win at the Silverlake Stadium.
The Spitfires have now claimed seven points from a possible nine over their past three games following good displays against Woking (0-0 against the promotion favourites), and at Dorchester on Friday night where they ran out 3-1 winners.
Eastleigh's turn in fortune and good performances has seen the club move forward and begin to settle after a shaky start to the season.
Weston-super-Mare came into the game on the back of three successive wins, which speaks volumes for Eastleigh managing to beat today's visitors.
Baird named an unchanged starting eleven from the side that defeated Ashley Vickers’ Magpies in Eastleigh’s previous game.
In the opening exchanges, Eastleigh had to defend an early free kick from Weston-super-Mare, whilst at the opposite end of the pitch Richard Gillespie fed Jamie Slabber with a neat pass. Slabber got a good shot away that had to be saved at the near post by Lloyd Irish, but the flag was up on the far side anyway.
Eastleigh fell behind to a soft goal as early as the ninth minute when CHRIS YOUNG opened the scoring for Craig Laird’s Weston-Super-Mare. Ben Hunt was allowed time and space to the right of goal in the Eastleigh penalty area where he was able to hook a pass into the centre for the equally unmarked Young to bring the ball down, and fire past the helpless Gareth Barfoot.
To their credit, Eastleigh fought back with two well-taken goals to come from behind and lead the game, just as they had done against Dorchester Town; only this time it didn’t take as long for a reply.
JORDACE HOLDER-SPOONER levelled the scores with a fantastic equalising goal in the 17th minute. The powerful youngster, who had scored his first league goal for Eastleigh on Friday in the 3-1 win, fired an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Lloyd Irish no chance. The goal came from an Eastleigh free kick taken by Frankie Raymond, which Tom Jordan headed down into Holder-Spooner's path, who did all the rest with a lethal finish.
Two minutes later, Weston-super-Mare had the ball in the back of the net, but fortunately it was ruled out for offside.
Eastleigh took the lead soon after when goal scorer Holder-Spooner turned provider in the 23rd minute. The former Southampton academy winger sent an inviting cross into the box from the left hand side where JAMIE SLABBER was perfectly placed to apply the finishing touch past the goalkeeper. It was Slabber's first goal of the campaign after scoring 25 goals last season, and just reward for the 2010/11 Players Player of the Season, who has had to act as a utility player so far this campaign (playing a number of different positions in midfield as well as up front).
In the build up to Eastleigh's second goal, good play from Jamie Brown saw a dangerous first-time cross start a spell of pressure from the hosts and put the visitors on the back foot.
Eleven minutes before the break, Ben Hunt spurned a gilt-edged chance for Weston-super-Mare after Martin Slocombe's low cross from the left provided a clear sight at goal from just a couple of yards out. It was a missed opportunity for Hunt and Weston-super-Mare, not that Eastleigh were complaining as they continued to hold their 2-1 lead.
Holder-Spooner continued his impressive first half display; not only for his positive attacking play but also drawing the plaudits for his hard work in tracking back to help out defensively.
With the half coming to a close, Kane Ingram came close to finding an equaliser for Weston-super-Mare following neat footwork and a low, curling shot from 20 yards out, that flew just past the upright.
The Spitfires have now claimed seven points from a possible nine over their past three games following good displays against Woking (0-0 against the promotion favourites), and at Dorchester on Friday night where they ran out 3-1 winners.
Eastleigh's turn in fortune and good performances has seen the club move forward and begin to settle after a shaky start to the season.
Weston-super-Mare came into the game on the back of three successive wins, which speaks volumes for Eastleigh managing to beat today's visitors.
Baird named an unchanged starting eleven from the side that defeated Ashley Vickers’ Magpies in Eastleigh’s previous game.
In the opening exchanges, Eastleigh had to defend an early free kick from Weston-super-Mare, whilst at the opposite end of the pitch Richard Gillespie fed Jamie Slabber with a neat pass. Slabber got a good shot away that had to be saved at the near post by Lloyd Irish, but the flag was up on the far side anyway.
Eastleigh fell behind to a soft goal as early as the ninth minute when CHRIS YOUNG opened the scoring for Craig Laird’s Weston-Super-Mare. Ben Hunt was allowed time and space to the right of goal in the Eastleigh penalty area where he was able to hook a pass into the centre for the equally unmarked Young to bring the ball down, and fire past the helpless Gareth Barfoot.
To their credit, Eastleigh fought back with two well-taken goals to come from behind and lead the game, just as they had done against Dorchester Town; only this time it didn’t take as long for a reply.
JORDACE HOLDER-SPOONER levelled the scores with a fantastic equalising goal in the 17th minute. The powerful youngster, who had scored his first league goal for Eastleigh on Friday in the 3-1 win, fired an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Lloyd Irish no chance. The goal came from an Eastleigh free kick taken by Frankie Raymond, which Tom Jordan headed down into Holder-Spooner's path, who did all the rest with a lethal finish.
Eastleigh took the lead soon after when goal scorer Holder-Spooner turned provider in the 23rd minute. The former Southampton academy winger sent an inviting cross into the box from the left hand side where JAMIE SLABBER was perfectly placed to apply the finishing touch past the goalkeeper. It was Slabber's first goal of the campaign after scoring 25 goals last season, and just reward for the 2010/11 Players Player of the Season, who has had to act as a utility player so far this campaign (playing a number of different positions in midfield as well as up front).
Eleven minutes before the break, Ben Hunt spurned a gilt-edged chance for Weston-super-Mare after Martin Slocombe's low cross from the left provided a clear sight at goal from just a couple of yards out. It was a missed opportunity for Hunt and Weston-super-Mare, not that Eastleigh were complaining as they continued to hold their 2-1 lead.
Holder-Spooner continued his impressive first half display; not only for his positive attacking play but also drawing the plaudits for his hard work in tracking back to help out defensively.
With the half coming to a close, Kane Ingram came close to finding an equaliser for Weston-super-Mare following neat footwork and a low, curling shot from 20 yards out, that flew just past the upright.
HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2-1 Weston-super-Mare
Eastleigh had to weather the storm a little in the second half, but the way the Spitfires defended and stood strong as a unit was pleasing to see. Andy Forbes and sponsors man of the match Tom Jordan were colossal at the heart of the defence, while special praise is reserved for Henrik Breimyr who put in a solid performance at right back.
Danny Smith and Jamie Brown were typically combative in midfield whilst Andrew White, Richard Gillespie and later Sam Wilson (who came on early in the second half for Gillespie) all offered plenty of running and effort for the cause.
Jamie Slabber played a valuable role in the win and took up a deeper role in the second half playing in midfield just behind Sam Wilson who led the Eastleigh attack.
After a fairly even start to the second half with few chances, Dayle Grubb let fly with a free kick from 25-yards out in the 59th minute that had to be watched carefully over the bar by Gareth Barfoot.
The referee made a few strange decisions throughout the course of the game but Eastleigh were pleased with the way he interpreted a piece of play in the 62nd minute, which saw a clash between Barfoot and Weston’s Sahr Kabba. The Weston-super-Mare substitute hadn’t long been on the pitch having come off the bench as a substitute when he was played through one on one with the Eastleigh goalkeeper. There appeared to be a collision between the two players as Barfoot rushed off his line to try and thwart the danger, with Weston-super-Mare perhaps having a case for a penalty. Fortunately for Eastleigh, the incident was deemed by the referee as a foul by Kabba on Barfoot.
Eastleigh made their second substitution of the game when Joe Collins came on to replace left-back Frankie Raymond with 69 minutes played.
For large parts of the second half, Weston-super-Mare had been the team asking all the questions, but Eastleigh were resilient and strong enough at the back to soak up the sustained pressure.
The best chance of the half for the Spitfires came when Andrew White picked up on a loose ball on the right hand side and saw the opportunity to unleash a fierce shot at goal. Lloyd Irish could only parry the stinging shot with the ball falling straight to Jamie Slabber, who felt he should have had a corner as his shot appeared to be deflected.
With thirteen minutes of the game left to play, the game remained in the balance due to Eastleigh’s slender lead. Weston-super-Mare kept pushing for an equaliser as Chris Young saw his header crash against the post.
Five minutes from time youngster Adam Cashin-Murray took to the field to replace Danny Smith who had picked up a knock.
The game came to a close after Gareth Barfoot had made a good save to deny Dayle Grubb and Eastleigh then came through four minutes of stoppage time unscathed to hold on to three precious points.
Danny Smith and Jamie Brown were typically combative in midfield whilst Andrew White, Richard Gillespie and later Sam Wilson (who came on early in the second half for Gillespie) all offered plenty of running and effort for the cause.
Jamie Slabber played a valuable role in the win and took up a deeper role in the second half playing in midfield just behind Sam Wilson who led the Eastleigh attack.
After a fairly even start to the second half with few chances, Dayle Grubb let fly with a free kick from 25-yards out in the 59th minute that had to be watched carefully over the bar by Gareth Barfoot.
The referee made a few strange decisions throughout the course of the game but Eastleigh were pleased with the way he interpreted a piece of play in the 62nd minute, which saw a clash between Barfoot and Weston’s Sahr Kabba. The Weston-super-Mare substitute hadn’t long been on the pitch having come off the bench as a substitute when he was played through one on one with the Eastleigh goalkeeper. There appeared to be a collision between the two players as Barfoot rushed off his line to try and thwart the danger, with Weston-super-Mare perhaps having a case for a penalty. Fortunately for Eastleigh, the incident was deemed by the referee as a foul by Kabba on Barfoot.
Eastleigh made their second substitution of the game when Joe Collins came on to replace left-back Frankie Raymond with 69 minutes played.
For large parts of the second half, Weston-super-Mare had been the team asking all the questions, but Eastleigh were resilient and strong enough at the back to soak up the sustained pressure.
The best chance of the half for the Spitfires came when Andrew White picked up on a loose ball on the right hand side and saw the opportunity to unleash a fierce shot at goal. Lloyd Irish could only parry the stinging shot with the ball falling straight to Jamie Slabber, who felt he should have had a corner as his shot appeared to be deflected.
With thirteen minutes of the game left to play, the game remained in the balance due to Eastleigh’s slender lead. Weston-super-Mare kept pushing for an equaliser as Chris Young saw his header crash against the post.
Five minutes from time youngster Adam Cashin-Murray took to the field to replace Danny Smith who had picked up a knock.
The game came to a close after Gareth Barfoot had made a good save to deny Dayle Grubb and Eastleigh then came through four minutes of stoppage time unscathed to hold on to three precious points.
FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2-1 Weston-super-Mare
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