Beaten by the Saints but win at Thurrock would guarantee playoffs

ST. ALBANS 3-2 EASTLEIGH



SATURDAY 19th APRIL 2008
Blue Square South

By Ray Murphy
Eastleigh suffered their second successive odd goal in five defeat on their travels against a side that although hovering above the relegation zone had only suffered one defeat in their previous eight matches and picked up awards before the match for Blue Square South Manager Of The Month in Steve Castle and Player Of The Month in goalkeeper Paul Bastock. With other results on the day the picture for a play off position is now totally clear. A victory away at Thurrock on the final Saturday will guarantee Eastleigh a play off berth.

Eastleigh started brightly at St Albans. Andy Forbes' header from a Chris Piper cross on eight minutes was just wide and four minutes later Bastock saved a glancing Paul Sales header from Andy Harris’ long throw. On quarter of an hour an attempted clearance from Scott Cousins fell perfectly for Forbes but again his effort was just off target.

St Albans had their first chance on seventeen minutes, Luke Byles lost the ball in his own box allowing Paul Hakim a shot on goal but Jason Matthews was equal to the attempt. Three minutes later Paul Bruce laid the ball into the path of striker Akanni-Sunday Wasiu but his weak shot was easily smothered by Matthews.

As Eastleigh broke away at the opposite end former St Albans player Matt Hann was brought to the floor by centre back Ryan Frater and Eastleigh were awarded a penalty. Forbes despatched his penalty for his nineteenth Blue Square South goal of the season.

With twenty-three minutes played Hann should have doubled the Eastleigh score. Collecting a through ball from David Hughes, Hann slipped the ball past Bastock but the ball rolled the wrong side of the post. Sales laid the ball into the path of Hughes on thirty-four minutes; Hughes’ shot beat Bastock but again rolled just wide of the target. Five minutes before the interval Bruces’ free kick for St Albans bounced awkwardly in front of Matthews but the Eastleigh stopper grabbed the ball safely.

St Albans started the second period with a renewed vigour. Within the opening ten minutes of the half, Hakim had a long-range effort saved by Matthews, and then Lee Clarke turned a cross from Bradley Gray just wide. With sixty-one minutes played St Albans did net an equaliser. After being set up by Clarke, Gray curled a low left foot drive under the body of Matthews to nestle into the corner of the net. If that was distraught for Eastleigh, less than a minute later and matters got worse. Wasiu repeated the act making himself space in the area before planting a low drive down past Matthews to put St Albans in front.

As Eastleigh now tried to retain an equal footing in the game, Chris Piper's free kick was just off target before further disaster struck for Eastleigh in the seventy fourth minute. Seemingly having dealt with the danger, Matthews uncharacteristically got his feet entangled with the ball and the onrushing Wasiu took full advantage and rolled home his second goal of the afternoon.

A magnificent strike from Steve Watts cutting in from the left flank holding off a couple of challenges before firing a left foot shot from twenty five yards beyond Bastock gave Eastleigh hope for the remaining ten minutes. Two chances did arrive in the final minute. First Mark Marshall’s free kick fell for a free Watts header but he only managed to head the ball straight into the midriff of Bastock, then Marshall himself had an opportunity but his lack of composure saw the chance go begging.

So forty one league games played and it is all down to the last match of the season and a must win match at Thurrock.