Woking v Eastleigh - Match Preview

Match Preview by Kieran James

Ian Baird’s Spitfires crashed out of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night against Evo-Stick Southern Premier side Chippenham Town in a classic cup tie.

The Bluebirds opened the scoring with Alan Griffin following up his original effort which was saved by on-loan Southampton keeper Jack Dovey.

Eastleigh started to play football on the floor and Jamie Brown finished off a fantastic build up from The Spitfires that saw Danny Smith setting up Brown to fire home Eastleigh’s equaliser.

The game went all the way to penalties with both teams failing to get a winner in normal or extra time.

Jack Dovey saved Chippenham’s first penalty with a superb save only for on loan winger Graeme Montgomery from Aldershot Town to fire over the cross bar after both teams taken four penalties each.

After nine penalties each, left back Michael Green eventually saw his penalty saved by Will Puddy which sent the Chippenham players and management into raptures.

The Spitfires now play first place Woking in the Blue Square Bet South at The Kingfield Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick off).

Woking who are unbeaten at home in the league this season have not had the best cup run this year however.

The Card’s crashed out of the FA Cup away to Maidenhead United last month in the third qualifying round 4-1 and more recently lost 2-0 last Saturday away to Chelmsford City in the FA Trophy third qualifying round.

Woking’s last league game was at home to Chelmsford City where they drew 1-1 with Adam Doyle scoring his first goal of the season and The Card’s only goal in the 23rd minute with a header from a free kick.

The Cards have won 13 of their 18 league games this season only losing away once to second placed Welling United where the match finished 3-2.

Woking have only drawn four games this season, one being away to Eastleigh at The Silverlake Stadium back in August.

Ian Baird’s men got stuck in for a fantastic draw that night with Sam Wilson nearly claiming all three points for The Spitfires in the closing stages of the game.

The last time these two teams met at The Kingfield Stadium, Tom Jordan opened the scoring for Woking with an own goal after a dangerous Aswad Thomas cross.

Richard Gillespie scored a crucial goal for The Spitfires that saw them grab a share of the points ten minutes after the break.

This fixture came one month after the two teams met in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round at The Kingfield in the 2010/11 season.

Richard Gillespie opened the scoring for The Spitfires after two minutes with a fantastic strike only for Woking to hit back 28 minutes later.

Jerome Maledon hit the post which somehow managed to creep into the back of the net and Craig Faulconbridge ensured Woking would be in the lead at the break with a cool finish.

Former Woking striker Jamie Slabber equalised for The Spitfires six minutes after the break, however Elvis Hammond secured Woking's place in the first round of the FA Cup and a draw away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

New Signings

Spitfires fans have received some great news leading up to the game, as Eastleigh’s director of football announced the signings of two new players on the fans forum.

“We are delighted to announce that following the agreement with Bridle Insurance, who have committed to a substantial sponsorship agreement, we have now completed the signing of Ali Fuseini from Lincoln City”

This news comes just six days after the midfielder got released by Lincoln City.

The Ghanaian and former Millwall midfielder Fuseini made 76 appearences for The Lions (Millwall) and scored two goals for the club from 2006 to 2010.

He then went on to play for Lewes and more recently made 32 appearances and scored one goal for Blue Square Bet Premier side Lincoln City.

Dave Malone also announced the signing of Scott Rogers from Blue Square Bet Premier side Newport County.

“It has just been confirmed that we have agreed terms with Scott Rogers, who will join us from Newport County (subject to receiving International Clearance from Wales FA).This has been facilitated by the generous sponsorship agreed earlier today with Bridle Insurance.”

Rogers who scored a 25 yard winner in last nights Newport County’s home game against Barry Town in the third round of the Welsh Cup has made 72 appearances having scored three goals for Blue Square Bet Premier side.

The experienced former Bath City midfielder spent six years of his career at Tiverton Town where he retained the FA Vase at Wembley in 1999.

He then went on to sign for Forest Green Rovers in 2003 and after a loan spell to Blue Square Bet South Weston-Super-Mare the midfielder went on to sign for Bath City.

After going loan to Newport County in the 2008/2009 season, Rogers then went on to sign for Newport County permanently in May 2009.

Director of football Malone also announced a further possible signing.

“We had hoped to announce a new signing from a League 2 Club, that we are certain would be very, very popular. However, the player is now required to be available for an FA Cup tie over the weekend, and thus the deal will not be completed until next week (assuming nothing changes!!).

Sorry to be vague, but I just wanted to enthuse our fans with evidence that the involvement of Bridle Insurance is already having a positive effect.”

Eastleigh have also changed the date of the Blue Square Bet South game against Thurrock at The Silverlake Stadium from Tuesday 6th December to Saturday 10th December following a request from Thurrock.

This going to be a great game to watch so come to The Kingfield Stadium on Saturday to roar on The Spitfires!

COME ON YOU SPITFIRES!!!