Waters heads 2nd XI back in right direction

Eastleigh 2nd XI 3-2 Harefield United Reserves.
Suburban Premier League

TEAM: Craig Lisher, Niall Bryant, Zeke Rink, Tom Roberts (c), Jason Sangha, Joe Sheppard, Perry Mullins, Sam Skinner, Scott Waters, Dougie Rowe, James Screen.

SUBS: William Harvey (on for Lisher 45), Henry Agyei (on for Skinner 52), Sam Longman (on for Rink 74)

Match Report by Jamie Montigue
MATCH WINNER: Scott Waters headed home Eastleigh's third late in the game to ensure victory, also winning a penalty which put the Spitfires 2-1 up just after half time

After last weeks 1-0 home defeat to Beaconsfield SYCOB reserves, Brian and Adie's Spitfires' were looking for a reaction, seeking a win to get back on form. Today's opposition came in the form of lowly Harefield United, a side languishing at the wrong end of the table in 16th place.

A relatively dull and scrappy first half suddenly came to life midway through when Doug Rowe finished emphatically from close range on 32 minutes. Joe Sheppard played the ball short to his right to find the young striker Rowe, who struck diagonally across the goalkeeper to find the far corner of the net with a fine finish and his first goal for the reserves.

Prior to the goal, clear cut chances were few and far between. In a fast pace opening to the encounter, a quickly taken free-kick from the visitors had Lisher scrambling across his goal. The Eastleigh stopper need not have worried though as the shot fell comfortably wide of the post.

Harefield probably had a little more urgency about them to begin with in comparison to their youthful opponents who appeared to be second to the ball far too often in the opening stages.

Scott Waters was denied when played through down the middle, his progress stopped by a superb last ditch tackle.

The closest Eastleigh had come before Rowe's strike came from an effort by Waters that was sliced wide of the post.

Eastleigh might have doubled their advantage on 37 minutes as both Rowe and Waters pressured the last man into an error. Waters' challenge turned into a well placed, technically fine strike that swerved into the top corner of goal with the help of a slight deflection only for this 'goal' to be ruled out for an infringement.

Any preparations and thinking ahead for the upcoming team talk might just have changed especially as it looked as though Eastleigh would be heading into the break a goal to the good. Into the second minute of first half stoppage time, a looping header from the visitors' centre forward was steered powerfully towards goal to beat Craig Lisher. This goal taking things back to square one with the scores level at the break.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 1-1 Harefield United Res.

William Harvey, a trialist goalkeeper, was introduced for the second half in place of Lisher in the Eastleigh goal.

Beginning at a frantic pace and showing their intentions early in the second half, Eastleigh were rewarded with a penalty just minutes into the second half when Scott Waters bundled his way through before being brought down. James Screen stepped up to despatch confidently from the spot, restoring his side's lead.

With this fresh impetus, a decent cross from Perry Mullins on the right saw Waters fire narrowly wide just moments after the penalty.

A second Eastleigh trialist, Henry Agyei came on in place of Sam Skinner in the centre of midfield on 52 minutes. His first touch was to fire over the top from close range following excellent work by Waters who had created space down the left before squaring to create the opportunity.

The hosts in full flow now came close once more just short of the hour. An expert cross from Niall Bryant was met by an acrobatic flying volley from Rowe that was just inches away from finding the back of the net. A great attempt.

Perry Mullins had a snapshot parried before a second penalty shout. Again Waters was dragged down in the box but the referee was uninterested this time despite the protests and the foul seemingly clear-cut.

Just when the hosts were beginning to look more in control and assured with themselves an unfortunate error from trialist goalkeeper Harvey, allowed Harefield to equalise for the second time in the game. A hopeful ball into the box evaded the jump off the Eastleigh keeper bouncing straight over his head allowing for a simple tap-in for 2-2.

Harvey looked to rectify this mistake instantly and went the right way about it with a stunning save to thwart an attempt at goal from point-blank range.

Jason Sangha, as ever was a rock in the back four alongside the captain Tom Roberts and for this reason ensuring there was no late slip ups in throwing away the points, these two in particular played an invaluable role setting a great example.

A dramatic winner, but deserved none-the-less, a minute from time saw Scott Waters head home an inch perfect cross from a third trialist Sam Longman, with a sublime glancing header to ensure victory.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2nd XI 3-2 Harefield United Res.