Magpies end Eastleigh's Silverlake league record

EASTLEIGH v DORCHESTER TOWN



TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER 2008
Blue Square South

By Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh's unbeaten home run in the Blue Square South finally came to an end against a Dorchester Town side who had lost four games on the bounce. Shaun Brook's visitors' last and only other win came over two months ago on the opening day of the season. Ian Baird's men had ended a run of three straight defeats (Chelmsford and the infamous two cup exits), with a positive performance and a 3-3 draw against high-flying Hayes & Yeading United at the weekend.

Skipper Andy Harris was missing through suspension following the red card he picked up in the Setanta Shield versus Havant at the beginning of October. Meanwhile, Trevor Challis was back in the starting line up having served his ban; these the only changes to Saturday's starting eleven.

The Spitfires dominated the first half but were unable to turn their domination into something that would ultimately show for it – a goal. In the second half, one of very few chances and attempts on goal from the visiting Magpies ironically proved to be the decisive goal and Eastleigh, somewhat frustratingly could not find a way back into the game.

Former Magpies pairing Matt Groves and Jamie Brown lined up against the club where they spent a number of seasons together at the Avenue Stadium, and caused a few early problems for their ex-team mates as Eastleigh made the better start to the game.

Whilst Eastleigh were creating chances with some nice ideas in attack, the killer final ball always seemed to be over hit or otherwise amiss.

Dorchester's first attempt on goal saw Ronayne Marsh-Brown, who had come on in the opening stages of the game for the injured Jake Smeeton, prove a handful for Tony Taggart as he ran forward to the edge of the area before playing the ball across to Wes Fogden whose curling effort from 10 yards out was narrowly wide of goal.

In the 23rd minute, the Spitfires could feel a little hard done by for a seemingly harsh decision that went against them. Anthony Riviere appeared to have a shot charged down and stopped by the use of a hand in the Dorchester penalty area, though this wasn't the real issue as play continued with Jamie Brown pouncing on the loose ball and finishing smartly from close range. Oddly, the referee awarded a free kick for reasons best known to himself.

On the half hour, an extremely well-crafted bit of play from Taggart found Riviere who got to the byline only to have his driven low cross cut out at the near post.

Groves then forced a corner from which Matt Bodkin's delivery was headed agonisingly over the cross bar from close range by Brown in front of goal.

Ten minutes before the break, the build up play and fluent passing from Eastleigh along the floor and through the midfield was continually pleasing to watch with Peter Adeniyi perhaps the pick of the bunch for his shining performance and creativity.

Pete worked the ball well to his left for Challis whose delivery from the far side had to be cut out to evade the danger.

It was all Eastleigh but still with little to show for it and no end product.

Taggart forced a corner that came to nothing after which, Jamie Brown showed great desire and work rate chasing back past the halfway line to win possession once more for his team and set up another move. The ball eventually came out to Bodkin where a decent delivery into the box just needed a touch, though nobody in a white shirt could be seen.

The Spitfires came close again in the 38th minute as Brown won a free kick in a central position approximately 25-yards from goal. Matt Bodkin struck it well and former AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Gareth Stewart could only spill the powerful effort before gathering the ball at the second attempt ahead of the on-rushing Eastleigh players.

A good half from Eastleigh in terms of possession and the fact that Dorchester were very rarely given a sniff let alone allowed out of their own half, it was just sad that the hosts were unable to find a breakthrough and hold a lead for their efforts.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 0–0 Dorchester Town

A low crowd attendance of 392 for this midweek match saw Dorchester Town edge slowly into the frame and started the half the better side.

In the 54th minute Jamie Gleeson picked out Darren Watts in the middle, though the Magpies midfielder skied the ball high over the bar and still Matthews was yet to be tested.

A brief of glimpse of Eastleigh's neat interplay was displayed two minutes later as Adeniyi knocked the ball down for Groves who was on to it in a flash with a half volley that sailed comfortably wide of goal.

The dead lock was broken a minute before the hour. It will have to go down as a soft one to concede for Eastleigh as this was in fact only Dorchester's third attempt at goal compared to Eastleigh's double figures and yet they now found themselves a goal behind. A free kick on the right hand side from Gleeson was headed towards goal at the back post where Matthews parried kindly into the path of DANNY CLAY who reacted quickest to the mistake and was on hand to tap home from two yards.

Andy Forbes was soon introduced for Brown and the striker who is still recuperating from his long injury lay-off so nearly brought with him instant results.

Excellent hold up play by Adeniyi started the move off, which Bodkin continued with a dangerous cross that sat up well for Forbes. The former FA Vase winning hot shot rose high and got in a great looping header that came back off the post.

Baird had to go more attacking-minded sooner rather than later and did just that by replacing Trevor Challis with the fresh legs of Adam Roberts in the 78th minute, as the Spitfires played out the remaining twelve minutes with three at the back in order to try and salvage a point.

For all of Eastleigh's efforts it just wasn't quite happening as Dorchester sat back and got men behind the ball and snuffed out what little penetration was thrown at them.

Town were intent on winning back the ball and going for the counter attack and may well have settled matters as Nick Crittenden broke on one such occasion before forcing a good save out of Matthews three minutes from time.

In the dieing stages of the game Eastleigh had a couple of half chances but nothing more as both Luke Byles, an off-balance header from a Taggart free kick that was just too high, and similarly in injury time, Forbes couldn't keep his header down from a Bodkin corner.

The final action saw Warren Goodhind robbed in a precarious position leaving the Spitfires wide open at the back. Wes Fogden, who had won the ball high up the park, had fed the ball through to Ryan Moss who shot across goal and narrowly wide having found himself clean through.

In reflection Eastleigh probably had enough about them to deserve at the very least a share of the spoils, but in football it is not about how much possession you have or how many chances you create it is about what you do with them and fair play to Dorchester Town who stuck to their task and became the first side to come away with three points at the Silverlake Stadium in the league this season.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 0–1 Dorchester