Montgomery late strike salvages point

EASTLEIGH 1-1 SALISBURY CITY

TUESDAY 24^th JANUARY 2012

Blue Square Bet South

Match report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh's first home game of 2012 resulted in an enthralling 1-1 draw against rivals Salisbury City as the hosts had to fight back from a goal behind to salvage a point.

Ian Baird's side had a new look to it with a host of new signings on show this evening. Philip Appiah and Bradley Bubb both made their Silverlake Stadium debuts as did the Spitfires’ most recent signing Daryl McMahon. Defender Gary Elphick was amongst the substitutes.

The only change to the starting eleven from the side defeated by Basingstoke at the weekend saw Chris Flood make way for talented midfield playmaker Daryl McMahon, who joined the club yesterday from Boreham Wood.  

The first chance of the game came in the third minute which saw Eastleigh fans get a glimpse of their latest recruit McMahon. The Dublin born midfielder burst into the penalty area and saw his left foot shot palmed away by Will Puddy in the Salisbury goal.

McMahon was pulling the strings again in the 12th minute as his measured pass from the centre of the pitch was spread out to the left to find Damian Scannell. The former Southend United and Dagenham & Redbridge forward's near post shot was comfortably saved.

It was the visitors who broke the deadlock however, when former Eastleigh striker ROBBIE MATTHEWS took advantage of a missed interception from Andy Forbes to side-step his marker and fire home from close range. The goal came from an awkwardly bouncing long-ball forward from the right, which proved difficult for Forbes to deal with under pressure and Matthews made no mistake with the finish to hand Salisbury a 16th minute lead.

At the midway stage in the first half there were a couple of half chances for either side. Charlie Losasso went close with a free kick for City whilst Andy Forbes headed straight at Puddy from a McMahon corner with half an hour played.

Salisbury looked to have the Eastleigh defence under some distress when both Forbes and Tom Jordan failed to clear the ball in their own penalty area, but sponsors man of the match Scannell broke up the field at speed only for the counter attack to break down.

In the 38th minute Scannell got to the byline and looked to pick out Bradley Bubb with a good cross that had to be well claimed and cut out by Puddy.

A minute later Salisbury had a fine opportunity to double their lead. The goal scorer Matthews found Losasso in acres of space to the right of goal, who had time to pick his spot but fired over the cross bar when well placed.

Mitchell Nelson was booked for holding back the impressive Marvin Williams (who had an excellent game with endless running and energy), as Salisbury hit the resulting free kick narrowly off target on the stroke of half time.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 0-1 Salisbury City

Eastleigh looked to make a promising start to the second half in the early exchanges with another touch of class from Daryl McMahon finding Damian Scannell on the overlap down the right flank. Scannell's dangerous low cross narrowly evaded Bradley Bubb who was waiting to pounce in the 6-yard box.

Shortly after, Mitchell Nelson went on a similar run to Scannell and saw an enticing cross escape the attentions of everybody in the centre.

In the 52nd minute Salisbury looked to have extended their lead when Chris Giles rose highest to head home from a free kick but the referee disallowed the goal for a push.

Three minutes shy of the hour mark Jamie Brown flicked an effort off target after the ball bounced around in the Salisbury penalty area.

Eastleigh came even closer when Scannell received the ball in the centre, made a sharp turn and saw his effort tipped around the post by Puddy.

As the half wore on Salisbury looked the more likely to score after a spell of extended pressure. Ben Adelsbury had a goal bound shot deflected wide by Philip Appiah. Marvin Williams then came close from a corner before both Michael Green and Andy Forbes were in the right place at the right time for the Spitfires to clear off the line and save otherwise certain goals.

Chris Flood was brought on in place of Appiah in the 69th minute, as a tactical switch due to the former Farnborough midfielder being on a yellow card which he picked up for dissent.

With the game coming to a close Scannell won a free kick for Eastleigh just outside the box. McMahon's powerful drive was then kept out by a brave defensive header as Salisbury stood firm.

Ten minutes from time, Graeme Montgomery came on in place of target man Jamie Brown and made an excellent impact and contribution in coming off the bench to rescue a point for the Spitfires late in the game.

After Bubb had demonstrated his pace and put in a good cross which had to be cleared, GRAEME MONTGOMERY popped up with an 86th minute equaliser drilling in an excellent 30-yard strike to find the bottom corner.

There was still time for late drama as Tom Jordan made a mistimed challenge on Dan Fitchett in the 90th minute. The Eastleigh skipper looked to be the last man when he brought down the Salisbury player and was probably fortunate to only be punished with a yellow card. Stuart Anderson's free kick was squandered by firing straight in to the wall of Eastleigh defenders.

Eastleigh had Jack Dovey to thank for a fantastic double save in stoppage time to keep the scores level. Dovey’s reactions to keep out two efforts from point blank range and in quick succession demonstrated the young on-loan Southampton stopper’s qualities.

A point for the Spitfires sees Ian Baird’s side climb two places to 11th in the Blue Square Bet South.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 1-1 Salisbury City

Salisbury City - 240112