Eastleigh triumph over Hawks in Hampshire derby
EASTLEIGH 3-2 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE
TUESDAY 7th FEBRUARY 2012
Blue Square Bet South
TUESDAY 7th FEBRUARY 2012
Blue Square Bet South
Match report by Jamie Montigue
Eastleigh triumphed in a five-goal Hampshire derby encounter to see off Havant & Waterlooville by three goals to two.
526 braved the freezing cold temperatures and it was the Spitfires who left the game with all three points thanks to another good showing at the Silverlake Stadium.
Ian Baird's Spitfires are on an excellent run of form at home in the league - this latest victory seeing Eastleigh make it 10 games without defeat on home turf in the Blue Square South.
Making just one change to the side who comfortably saw off Sutton United this time last week with a 4-0 demolition; Eastleigh brought Danny Smith into the starting eleven in place of Philip Appiah (hamstring injury). Gary Elphick was missing from the squad due to illness.
In a flying start to the game, DARYL McMAHON opened his account for Eastleigh with his first goal for the club with just four minutes on the clock. There may have been a hint of fortune about the goal as it looked as though the effort from out on the far left flank was meant as a cross. McMahon and Eastleigh weren't complaining though as the ball looped dangerously into the penalty area and ended up completely deceiving Havant keeper Lyall Beasely, bouncing once before finding the back of the net.
Just prior to the goal, Damian Scannell made a lively run and hit an early shot that was deflected for a corner.
Eastleigh continued to look the better side playing good football. In the 19th minute, the hosts put together one of their best moves of the game down the right touchline. Scannell drove forwards with the ball before passing into the penalty area for Bradley Bubb. The on-loan Aldershot Town striker provided an excellent back-heeled pass into the feet of Jamie Slabber who was denied by Beasely, who spread himself well to make the save.
Midway through the half, Scannell teed up Daryl McMahon who let fly with a shot from distance that was blocked. From the resulting corner kick, the ball came back out to Scannell who crossed for Slabber to head the ball narrowly over the top.
The Spitfires showed more desire and attacking threat with Slabber again coming close with a header that was deflected behind following a cross from McMahon. Scannell then had a shot pushed away by Beasely in the 33rd minute. A minute later, Scannell was in the thick of things again as McMahon played a short corner into his feet only for the former Southend United winger to see his low effort from 8-yards comfortably saved.
DAMIAN SCANNELL deservedly doubled Eastleigh's advantage with an excellent strike six minutes before the break. Bradley Bubb closed down Beasely to apply pressure on the keeper as former Spitfires defender Chris Holland's back pass was under hit. The threat soon became apparent as Scannell picked up on the loose ball and slammed the ball across goal to find the corner of the net in some style. Scannell still had a lot to do but took the shot first time to fire Eastleigh into a 2-0 lead.
The only blemish on an otherwise strong first half display from Eastleigh came in the 44th minute when Havant pulled a goal back. On the stroke of half time Hawks skipper SAM PEARCE drilled home through a crowd of players with a low effort that went in with the help of a deflection.
Eastleigh had a couple of sightings of goal in the opening stages of the second half with Damian Scannell getting an early strike on target. Jamie Slabber then saw his chip in the 48th minute fall just wide of the target.
It wasn’t until the 54th minute that Shaun Gale’s side had a half chance. Scott Jones rose well to meet Steven Ramsey’s cross but failed to trouble Jack Dovey in the Eastleigh goal.
Havant then had a little spell where they enjoyed a bit more possession with Chris Arthur’s tricky cross being touched over the bar for a corner by Dovey on the hour mark. Dovey then half-cleared from a corner with a punch away from danger before a shot from 25-yards then came in but landed the wrong side of the up right.
Jamie Brown replaced Slabber in the 66th minute and almost made an immediate impact with a glancing header from a Daryl McMahon free kick being saved.
With the game still neatly poised with just one goal separating the two sides, Eastleigh made an important break through to extend their lead. BRADLEY BUBB applied another good finish on the back of his recent hat trick versus Sutton, this fourth goal in as many appearances for the Spitfires. The skilful and industrious Scannell added to his first half strike by providing the assist for Bubb on the counter attack. Bubb displayed his goal scoring instincts to beat the keeper coolly with the outside of his right boot.
In the 79th minute, Damian Scannell forced Lyall Beasely into another save with the visiting goalkeeper stopping well with his legs.
Havant set up a tense finish when SAM PEARCE came up from defence to make a nuisance of himself in the attacking third. Eastleigh failed to clear their lines and the physical presence of both Chamal Fenelon and the Havant captain was enough to see Pearce take the ball post Dovey for his second goal of the night. It proved to be no more than a consolation however as Eastleigh held on for another good win.
Andy Forbes was named sponsors man of the match for a strong display in the heart of a strong defensive unit where Mitchell Nelson, Tom Jordan and Michael Green all shone.
Next up for Eastleigh is a home game versus Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.
526 braved the freezing cold temperatures and it was the Spitfires who left the game with all three points thanks to another good showing at the Silverlake Stadium.
Ian Baird's Spitfires are on an excellent run of form at home in the league - this latest victory seeing Eastleigh make it 10 games without defeat on home turf in the Blue Square South.
Making just one change to the side who comfortably saw off Sutton United this time last week with a 4-0 demolition; Eastleigh brought Danny Smith into the starting eleven in place of Philip Appiah (hamstring injury). Gary Elphick was missing from the squad due to illness.
In a flying start to the game, DARYL McMAHON opened his account for Eastleigh with his first goal for the club with just four minutes on the clock. There may have been a hint of fortune about the goal as it looked as though the effort from out on the far left flank was meant as a cross. McMahon and Eastleigh weren't complaining though as the ball looped dangerously into the penalty area and ended up completely deceiving Havant keeper Lyall Beasely, bouncing once before finding the back of the net.
Just prior to the goal, Damian Scannell made a lively run and hit an early shot that was deflected for a corner.
Eastleigh continued to look the better side playing good football. In the 19th minute, the hosts put together one of their best moves of the game down the right touchline. Scannell drove forwards with the ball before passing into the penalty area for Bradley Bubb. The on-loan Aldershot Town striker provided an excellent back-heeled pass into the feet of Jamie Slabber who was denied by Beasely, who spread himself well to make the save.
Midway through the half, Scannell teed up Daryl McMahon who let fly with a shot from distance that was blocked. From the resulting corner kick, the ball came back out to Scannell who crossed for Slabber to head the ball narrowly over the top.
The Spitfires showed more desire and attacking threat with Slabber again coming close with a header that was deflected behind following a cross from McMahon. Scannell then had a shot pushed away by Beasely in the 33rd minute. A minute later, Scannell was in the thick of things again as McMahon played a short corner into his feet only for the former Southend United winger to see his low effort from 8-yards comfortably saved.
DAMIAN SCANNELL deservedly doubled Eastleigh's advantage with an excellent strike six minutes before the break. Bradley Bubb closed down Beasely to apply pressure on the keeper as former Spitfires defender Chris Holland's back pass was under hit. The threat soon became apparent as Scannell picked up on the loose ball and slammed the ball across goal to find the corner of the net in some style. Scannell still had a lot to do but took the shot first time to fire Eastleigh into a 2-0 lead.
HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2-1 Havant & Waterlooville
Eastleigh had a couple of sightings of goal in the opening stages of the second half with Damian Scannell getting an early strike on target. Jamie Slabber then saw his chip in the 48th minute fall just wide of the target.
It wasn’t until the 54th minute that Shaun Gale’s side had a half chance. Scott Jones rose well to meet Steven Ramsey’s cross but failed to trouble Jack Dovey in the Eastleigh goal.
Havant then had a little spell where they enjoyed a bit more possession with Chris Arthur’s tricky cross being touched over the bar for a corner by Dovey on the hour mark. Dovey then half-cleared from a corner with a punch away from danger before a shot from 25-yards then came in but landed the wrong side of the up right.
Jamie Brown replaced Slabber in the 66th minute and almost made an immediate impact with a glancing header from a Daryl McMahon free kick being saved.
With the game still neatly poised with just one goal separating the two sides, Eastleigh made an important break through to extend their lead. BRADLEY BUBB applied another good finish on the back of his recent hat trick versus Sutton, this fourth goal in as many appearances for the Spitfires. The skilful and industrious Scannell added to his first half strike by providing the assist for Bubb on the counter attack. Bubb displayed his goal scoring instincts to beat the keeper coolly with the outside of his right boot.
Havant set up a tense finish when SAM PEARCE came up from defence to make a nuisance of himself in the attacking third. Eastleigh failed to clear their lines and the physical presence of both Chamal Fenelon and the Havant captain was enough to see Pearce take the ball post Dovey for his second goal of the night. It proved to be no more than a consolation however as Eastleigh held on for another good win.
Andy Forbes was named sponsors man of the match for a strong display in the heart of a strong defensive unit where Mitchell Nelson, Tom Jordan and Michael Green all shone.
Next up for Eastleigh is a home game versus Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.
FULL TIME: Eastleigh 3-2 Havant & Waterlooville
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