Win for Reserves but it's Bad News for Chris Collins

STRUGGLING FLEET BEATEN BY HORNER'S WINNER

Eastleigh 2nd XI 2-1 Fleet Town Res.
Suburban Premier League

TEAM: Grant Porter, Jon Horner, Theo Tonkin, Chris Collins, Tom Roberts (c), James Screen, Aiden Sainsbury, Zeke Rink, TJ McClory-Cuthbertson, Scott Waters, Joe Maxwell

SUBS: Greg Bolt (on for Collins 24), Joe Sheppard (on for Tonkin 56), Callum Stanley (on for Maxwell 77) - Unused: Niall Bryant, Freddie Toomer.

GOALS: Greg Bolt (45), Jon Horner (78)

Match Report by Jamie Montigue

With three wins in their last four, Eastleigh's reserves have climbed high up the table to within touching distance of the top.

It started off badly for first team defender Chris Collins who played just 24 minutes before pulling his hamstring. Very bad news at a time when injuries are adding up by the day. The centre back was chasing a ball to the touchline from Rink when he went down clutching the back of his leg on 19 minutes.

Whilst Eastleigh went down to ten men temporarily, Collins was determined to get back on after doing a few stretches and runs on the sidelines but when he eventually returned after three minutes was unable to continue and was replaced by Greg Bolt.

Jon Horner had a great game throughout and had the first opportunity of the evening with a storming run from right back beating three men before planting his shot narrowly over the cross bar.

Good hold up play from Scott Waters high up the pitch saw the forward pull the ball back for Theo Tonkin when it looked as if nothing was on. Tonkin was brought down a yard outside the penalty area on the left hand side and TJ McClory-Cuthbertson's low driven free kick had to be deflected behind.

Fleet's Mark Anderson had a good opportunity at the opposite end but having drifted past the outstretched arms of Grant Porter on the edge of his penalty area, was muscled off the ball by a superb saving challenge from Horner.

Coming up to half an hour played, both sides were evenly matched and creating chances.

Anderson came close once more on 27 minutes as he brushed off Tom Roberts down the middle to find himself one on one with the goalkeeper, but this time Porter came off his line well to save with his legs - an important stop.

A cross from TJ on the right saw Zeke Rink attack the ball well in the centre only for the ball to be deflected up and into the safety of Dave Smalley's arms.

Eastleigh continued to press with a measured pass forward by James Screen, behind the defence and into the path of Waters, who was came off second best on this occasion to the outrushing goalkeeper.

With half time looming, the Spitfires mounted a good spell of pressure at just the right time. An Aidan Sainsbury corner from the left came back out but only as far as Screen whose dipping half volley wasn't far away.

The next attack saw Rink spread the play out to the right for TJ, who off-balance hit the ball over the top and was always rising.

Deservedly, Eastleigh got their just rewards right on half time when Screen jinked past two to draw the foul and win the free kick in a great position.

Both TJ and Sainsbury stood over it, but it was played short for the latter - the former Bournemouth youngster who let it roll across his body and onto his right foot. Sainsbury pulled the trigger with a thunderous strike and the best Smalley could do was push onto his own cross bar where Greg Bolt followed in well at the back post to finish and give the hosts a 1-0 lead going into the break.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 1-0 Fleet Town Res.

Brian and Adie's men started brightly in the second half initially with Waters going down in the area, perhaps a little too easily before his strike partner had a glorious opportunity to double the advantage.

James Screen did ever so well to keep the ball in play on the left hand side before poking the ball through for Joe Maxwell who turned his man nicely but when it opened up for him in front of goal the shot was screwed comfortably wide.

Fleet were able to come back into the game moments later.

Prior to the equaliser, Theo Tonkin was beaten by Fleet's Josh Taylor only for the Eastleigh left back to be penalised for a blatant tug on his opponent as he looked to get away. Tonkin picking up a careless yellow card.

Then on 56 minutes, the scores were level as James Whittingham headed home into the top corner, unchallenged a right wing corner from 10 yards.

Joe Sheppard was immediately introduced as Tonkin made way, and the substitution looked to have steadied things at the back.

Full credit to Eastleigh for the way they responded to conceding, and really there was only going to be one winner.

Tom Pemberton hit a speculative effort from 30 yards that flew narrowly wide of Porter's post, before Scott Waters won a penalty having been brought down just inside the area.

With four goals to his name this season for the 2nd team, add to that scoring the winner in extra time against Totton in the Hampshire Senior Cup from the penalty spot just last week, it was Aidan Sainsbury who stepped up but his effort was kept out by a brilliant diving save from Smalley low to his right.

Eastleigh kept plugging away and eventually it paid off.

Zeke Rink had an excellent drive from distance crash against the post from Waters' lay off, though it wouldn't have mattered as the flag was up anyway.

TJ scooped a shot high over the cross bar minutes later before Callum Stanley came on for Joe Maxwell up front.

With twelve minutes remaining, Jon Horner ensured victory with an excellent winning goal. It was no more than both he and Eastleigh deserved for their efforts throughout the night. The right back broke into the box with a powerful run on the overlap before drilling confidently into the bottom left.

It may have been even better for the Spitfires. Four minutes from time, brilliant work from McClory-Cuthbertson down the right worked an opening and what an opportunity it was for Rink. The defensive minded player had got forward well and had the ball put on a plate for him just 6 yards out but somehow produced an unbelievable miss.

Then, in the closing stages Eastleigh playing well right to the final whistle - a Callum Stanley cross was met by a great volley and excellent technique from Waters only to be denied by an equally good save.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 2-1 Fleet Town Res.