Havant & Waterlooville v Eastleigh - Match Preview

Match Preview by Kieran James

 

Ian Baird’s Spitfires sent out a youthful side for their Hampshire Senior Cup third round tie at home to Evo-Stik Southern Division One Central outfit Fleet Town.

Eastleigh got of to the best of starts with Chris Flood doing well to set up Jordace Holder-Spooner who made no mistake with a cool finish after just three minutes played.

Holder-Spooner then turned creator when the winger did very well to set up seventeen-year-old Sam Wilson who tucked away his first goal for the Eastleigh first team this season.

Eastleigh missed several chances with Danny Smith hitting the post after doing so well taking it past keeper Ryan Pryce.

Sam Wilson then scored his second of the game, one minute from the break with a superb effort on goal when the former Portsmouth youngster curled a right-foot shot into the back of the net.

Chris Flood added to a one-sided scoreline with a fantastic solo goal after taking it round several defenders before finding the net in style.

The game finished 4-0 to the Spitfires however it could of been 10-0 as the Spitfires dominated possession throughout.

Eastleigh now play Hampshire rivals Havant & Waterlooville in the Blue Square Bet South at West Leigh Park on Boxing Day (3pm kick off).

The Hawks have not got off to the best of starts this season as they sit in 15th place, (five places below Eastleigh) having won only six games this season in the league.

Havant & Waterlooville’s last game was away to Tonbridge Angels where they won 1-2 with Steven Ramsey and Ollie Palmer both netting for The Hawks, which was enough to see them secure their first away win since August.

The last time these two teams met in the league was at the Silverlake Stadium where the Spitfires defeated the Hawks 4-2 in a 6-goal thriller last season.

Brett Williams (now at Reading and on loan to Rotherham United) put the Spitfires 1-0 up after some individual skill. The young striker intercepted a poor pass to take the ball around goalkeeper Aaron Howe to score into an empty net.

Leon Cashman scored from the tightest of angles to equalise for the Hawks and the half got even worse for the Spitfires when Guiseppe Sole's under hit shot found Mustafa Tiryaki (now at Tranmere Rovers) who made no mistake from six yards.

Eastleigh captain and former Havant & Waterlooville player Tom Jordan equalised for the Spitfires with an unstoppable header that gave goalkeeper Aaron Howe no chance.

In the last minute, man of the match Brett Williams popped up with a fine header to put Eastleigh 3-2 up and send the Eastleigh fans in to raptures.

Brett Williams was then brought down in the area and former Havant and Waterlooville striker Jamie Slabber converted a cool penalty which added further salt to the Hawks' wounds.

Twenty days later, the Hawks got some revenge in the Hampshire Senior Cup with a 1-5 win against a very youthful Eastleigh side, which saw only two first team players.

Sam Wilson scored his first ever Eastleigh goal in a first team match, however that goal was soon cancelled out with a brace from Guiseppe Sole, an own goal by Charlie Bailey and goals apiece from Wes Fodgen and Ian Simpemba all helped towards a win against Eastleigh, however the Spitfires kept the league bragging rights.

The last time these two teams played at West Leigh Park was back in August 2010 and the game finished 2-2 for the third time running between these two teams at West Leigh Park.

Wes Fogden played a good ball to Sammy Igoe, who gave Gareth Barfoot no chance with a powerful shot to put The Hawks 1-0 up Igoe got booked for running up to the Eastleigh fans and celebrating with a “I can’t hear you” celebration.

Jamie Brown was then fouled by Bobby Hopkinson in the area and the referee awarded a penalty for Eastleigh right on the stroke of half time.

Jamie Slabber who rarely misses from the spot, tucked away a cool penalty kick to equalise for the Spitfires against his former club

The closing ten minutes saw two goals with Mustafa Tiryaki scoring a thunderous free kick which looked to be the winner for Havant & Waterlooville.

However in the very last minute of stoppage time, Richard Graham (now at Dartford) put in a great corner for Chris Holland to send his powerful header into the back of the net for what seemed a fair result.

Holland who signed for Havant & Waterlooville before the season started, is suspended for this game after the centre back was shown a red card in a Hampshire Senior Cup third round tie against Wessex Premier League outfit Blackfield and Langley.

Eastleigh manager Ian Baird will be looking forward to facing his former employers who he departed for the Spitfires in 2007. Whilst assistant manager Shaun Wilkinson will also be making a return to West Leigh Park, where he used to play for The Hawks.

Out of the last six games, Eastleigh have picked up an impressive thirteen points and are third in the form table (one point behind league leaders Woking).

The Hawks have picked up only nine points out of there last six games and sit in 11th place in the form table.

Eastleigh have only won three games out of ten away in the league this season and have not drawn any games however Havant & Waterlooville have won four out of ten games at home.

This is going to be a great game to watch so come on down to West Leigh Park and roar on those Spitfires to a fourth straight win in all competitions.

Have a Merry Christmas and lets hope for a gift wrapped three points for the Spitfires.

COME ON YOU SPITFIRES!