Sholing 3-2 Eastleigh

SHOLING v EASTLEIGH
Tuesday 31st July 2012

Pre-Season Friendly

Match report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh: Jack Dovey, Mitchell Nelson, Adam Everitt, Jean-Francois Christophe, Tom Jordan, Gary Elphick, Moses Ademola, Mark Hughes, Craig McAllister, Jai Reason, Damian Scannell. Subs (All used): Lee Peacock, Chris Flood, Andy Forbes, Michael Green, Glen Southam, Daryl McMahon.

Eastleigh suffered their first defeat of pre-season at the hands of Sholing FC despite a 2-1 half-time lead.

Jai Reason continued his fine form since joining the club in the summer from Braintree, putting in an excellent first half display with an assist and a stunning goal.

In the tenth minute Reason teed up Moses Ademola whose shot from 10 yards was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.

A powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area from trialist Mark Hughes (formerly of Barnet) flew just off target soon after.

In the 14th minute, former Eastleigh reserve striker Ben Chambers played a through ball into the path of Barry Mason, whose low shot across goal went inches past the post.

Midway through the half a lovely pass from Reason saw Ademola time his run to beat the offside trap only for the ex-Woking forward to see his lofted shot comfortably dealt with by Matt Brown in the Sholing goal.

The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute, seemingly out of nothing, when BYRON MASON planted a low drive from 25-yards into the bottom right hand corner to beat Jack Dovey. 1-0 to Sholing.

It didn't take Eastleigh all that long to find an equaliser. With 34 minutes played, Reason threaded a pass through to MOSES ADEMOLA who poked the ball past the keeper from close range making no mistake with the finish.

Damian Scannell's chipped shot from range in a central position lacked enough power to trouble Brown and a minute before the break Craig McAllister's weak left foot effort was also saved.

On the stroke of half time Eastleigh took the lead through a sublime solo effort from JAI REASON. Reason picked up the ball 20 yards from goal from McAllister’s lay off before chipping exquisitely into the net beyond the keeper to hand Ian Baird's side a 2-1 half time lead. It was the midfielders fourth goal in as many pre-season friendlies for Jai, who looks a quality addition and a key component of the Spitfires squad ahead of the upcoming Blue Square Bet South campaign.

HALF TIME: Sholing 1-2 Eastleigh

At the beginning of the second half Eastleigh made two substitutions with Andy Forbes and Daryl McMahon replacing Gary Elphick and Jai Reason respectively.

Just two minutes had been played when a wonder strike from LEE WORT saw the Sholing forward's half volley fly into the net past the despairing dive of Dovey from all of 25-yards to put the hosts back on level terms.

A powerful strike from Ademola in the 51st minute was parried by Matt Brown into the path of McAllister, who in turn somehow blasted the ball high over the bar with the goal gaping.

Two minutes later Eastleigh made a host of changes with Michael Green, Chris Flood, Glen Southam and Lee Peacock taking to the field to replace Adam Everitt, Moses Ademola, trialist Jean-Francois Christophe (a french midfielder who previously had spells with Portsmouth and AFC Bournemouth) and Craig McAllister.

Flood got into the penalty area down the left but tried to bend his shot into the corner which went well wide in the 57th minute.

On the hour, a penalty was awarded to Sholing - Andy Forbes the offender, penalised by the referee for a mistimed challenge to bring down his marker in the area. BARRY MASON thumped home the resulting spot kick straight down the middle to put Dave Diaper's Sholing 3-2 ahead, the hosts leading for the first time in the game.

The game dragged towards its conclusion with few chances thereafter, the closest the Spitfires came to drawing level was a shot on the turn from McMahon that sailed comfortably over the bar.

Eastleigh dominated possession with lots of passes to pin Sholing back in to their own half for large spells but failed to create any openings.

Seven minutes from time Mitchell Nelson hobbled off with an injury so Adam Everitt came back on in his place.

A useful exercise for both sides, on this occasion it was Sholing who ran out 3-2 winners.

FULL TIME: Sholing 3-2 Eastleigh