Slabber and Brown on target to seal Spitfires win

EASTLEIGH 2-1 STAINES TOWN

SATURDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 2011

Blue Square Bet South

Match report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh secured their first win since the end of August with a 2-1 win over Staines Town thanks to goals from Jamie Slabber and Jamie Brown to end a run of four games without victory.

The Spitfires were forced to do it the hard way and come from behind having conceded an early goal, but it was a game today where the result was more important than the performance.

Staines may feel aggrieved to have not taken a share of the spoils after a spirited second half display, but the Eastleigh defending to see the game out was heroic at times with the likes of Tom Jordan, Ross Bottomley, Henrik Breimyr and Andy Forbes all making valuable tackles, blocks and headers throughout the course of the game to ensure the points went their way.

Special mention must also go to Danny Smith, who was named as the sponsor’s man of the match for a typically combative display in midfield where he never stopped battling for the cause.

Ian Baird made just once change to the starting line-up from the side beaten in midweek by Paul Doswell’s high-flying Sutton United. Jordace Holder-Spooner replaced Andrew White in an otherwise unchanged starting eleven.

The first of the action saw the visitors on the attack. Richard Butler was allowed space to run free down the left, however, having got in behind the Eastleigh defence; the Staines forward opted to square the ball for Andre Scarlett. The pass to Scarlett allowed the Spitfires back line time to recover their shape and get a block on the shot, which was deflected through to Gareth Barfoot.

Eastleigh fell behind in the sixth minute of the game when former Spitfires defender ADAM EVERITT scored from a 50-yard speculative free kick, which caught Barfoot off his goal line. After the game Baird said: “He’s (Everitt) put the ball down, he’s seen Barfoot off his line and he’s hit a tremendous strike.”

Staines had a chance to double their lead with eleven minutes played with a free kick just outside the penalty area. David Wheeler managed to beat the Eastleigh wall but the free kick lacked any conviction and proved to be a comfortable save for Barfoot.

In the 16^th minute, Eastleigh conjured up their first piece of attacking play. Aldershot loanee Graeme Montgomery delivered an inviting cross from the left where Jamie Slabber headed over the bar.

Wells’ clean sheet didn’t stay in tact for too long though as JAMIE SLABBER found the net from close range in the 18^th minute. Tom Jordan flicked the ball on from a high ball into the box and Slabber was in the right place at the right time to apply the finishing touch for his third goal of the season.

In the 22^nd minute, Eastleigh’s best bit of football in the first half saw Montgomery link up with Andy Forbes down the left hand side. Forbes on the overlap picked out Slabber with a pinpoint cross where the goal scorer’s glancing header had to be kept out by a fine save. Louis Wells had to be at his best to keep the header out, as his full stretch diving save kept the scores level.

Eastleigh were now beginning to get into their stride with chances coming thick and fast. Tom Jordan’s looping header from a Henrik Breimyr long throw in the 24^th minute dropped narrowly over the cross bar.

The Spitfires took the lead midway through the first half when JAMIE BROWN was on hand to fire the ball into the net. In the build up to the goal, Richard Gillespie linked up with Jordace Holder-Spooner, who worked room for a shot and saw his effort from outside the box spilled by Staines goalkeeper Louis Wells. Brown made no mistake as the ball came out to him and his manager was full of praise for the experienced midfielder.

“Jamie’s Jamie isn’t he? You know you are always going to get 150 per cent effort off him and 150 per cent endeavour. For once the ball fell for us and he stuck it away, I’m pleased for Browner.”

With Eastleigh now a goal up, the hosts put a lot of pressure on Wells' goal. From a Montgomery long throw from the left, the ball bounced dangerously in the Staines six-yard box and had to be punched away from danger. Danny Smith was the next to threaten with a shot from the edge of area that had to be pushed away.

In the 34^th minute, Smith then played the ball into Gillespie whose shot from inside the area to the right of goal, fired an effort high and wide of the target.

Mark Nwokeji, who had a loan spell with Eastleigh last season, made a few good runs at the Spitfires defence with pace but it was Eastleigh who held the lead at the break.

Reflecting on the first half performance, Baird said: “If we’d gone in to half time at 4-1, I don’t think it would have been unjust.”

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2-1 Staines Town

After the break, Eastleigh had to do much of the defending and had little by way of chances, in stark comparison to their first half display.

Inside the first minute of the second half, Mark Nwokeji almost broke free of the last defender but his run was halted by a perfectly-timed challenge from Ross Bottomley. It was one of Ross’ finer performance’s for Eastleigh.

Two minutes later an excellent attempt by Peter Smith saw his well-executed left foot volley fly narrowly wide of the upright.

Eastleigh survived another scare in the 51^st minute when Richard Butler’s effort was saved by Barfoot. The ball wasn’t cleared and Andre Scarlett should have done better with the rebound from close range which was blocked on the line.

Richard Gillespie had a half chance for the Spitfires after Graeme Montgomery’s deep free kick was kept in play at the far post by Tom Jordan. The Eastleigh skipper scooped a high ball back into the danger area but when the ball dropped for Gillespie; his poked effort was cleared off the line.

At around the sixty minute mark, Eastleigh temporarily went down to ten men as Jordan left the field with blood streaming from his nose. Whilst the captain received treatment, Jamie Brown stepped into the defence to keep things tight at the back.

It is thought Tom may have suffered a suspected broken nose, but the towering centre half returned to the field of play in a blood shirt and completed the game, whilst also playing his part in keeping Staines out.

In the 66^th minute Danny Gordon was booked for a foul on Slabber. The referee should have allowed play to continue though as Gillespie had the ball and ran clean through on goal.

Gareth Barfoot then had to make two good saves in the space of two minutes, his best save coming from a Gareth Risbridger overhead kick that was heading for goal and had to be tipped over the bar.

In the 76^th minute, Henrik Breimyr made an important block to stop Butler’s goal-bound effort.

Eastleigh made three substitutions towards the end of the game with Andrew White, Shaun Wilkinson and Fulham target Sam Wilson all getting run outs.

The club would like to wish Sam all the best next week for his trial and opportunity to train and showcase his talent with a Premier League club.

The game ended with the Spitfires holding out for three points.

Next weekend Eastleigh have a third home game in a row for a Saturday fixture with Cinderford Town coming to the Silverlake Stadium for an FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2-1 Staines Town