Sutton United 0-0 Eastleigh

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SUTTON UNITED v EASTLEIGH


SATURDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2008
Blue Square South

Match Report by Ray Murphy

Manager Ian Baird kept faith in the side that had demolished Fisher Athletic the previous week, but seven days later they could not find a way through the defence of the side at the foot of the Blue Square South League table.

With their own team selection problems, Sutton United were unable to field Eastleigh loanee player Karim El Salahi in the match against them. With regular goalkeeper Phil Wilson not available it also meant a debut for recent signing Kevin Davies in the Sutton goal.

It was not the best surface that Eastleigh have played on this season either and a biting cold wind led to a goalless draw the game taking the aura from what the score line reflects.

Eastleigh started brightly enough, Andy Forbes’ shot from Anthony Riviere’s cross was pushed away by Davies whilst Chris Piper also saw a free kick effort being deflected off target.

Mark Marshall had a header from a Piper cross-saved by Davies midway though the opening half though Sutton came closest to scoring through the whole match on thirty two minutes. Harry Ottaway wide on the left played the ball behind the Eastleigh defence allowing the strong run of Craig Dundas on to the ball. As David Wilkinson came off his line to narrow the angle, Dundas slipped a shot just past Wilkinson only for the ball to hit the inside of the post before rolling away to safety for Eastleigh.

Forbes had a diving header from a Peter Adeniyi cross saved by Davies and Jason Goodchild had a shot from twenty yards that went over the bar both in the five minutes leading up to the interval. A dull first half was mirrored by the second period.

Tom Hughes headed a Nicky Greene corner over the bar and Wilkinson pushed away a low shot from Goodchild but scoring chances were very limited. Dundas arguably should have done better after getting on the end of a Bashiru Alimi free kick but again he missed the target.

Eastleigh had introduced their latest acquisition Karl Murray who had their best chance of the second period. With seven minutes remaining his shot on the turn in side the area was saved by Davies.

If at the end of the season Eastleigh do not make their bid to reach the play off stages, then two games against bottom club Sutton United through the season that only produced one point from a possible six might be their downfall.

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