Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Tonbridge Angels Res.
Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Corinthian Casuals Res.
Suburban Premier League
TEAM: Fred Toomer, Adam Gastcumb, Aaron Blaxall, Tom Nicholas (c), Luke Byles, Adam Wiltshire, James Powell, Joe Crook, Scott Waters, Ben White, Nick Watt.
Subs: Todd (on for Wiltshire 81), Hall (on for Powell 83), Lane (on for White 88).
By Jamie Montigue
Eastleigh's second string made a promising start to the game with James Powell coming closest early on, his shot saved well by the visiting keeper low at his near post.
Ben White had the ball in the back of the net in the tenth minute for the Spitfires but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside.
The early pressure paid dividends as Eastleigh took the lead just eight minutes later following an extremely well worked move. White's sublime header from a ball forward was perfectly into the path of right sided mifielder Powell who overlapped well to side foot a powerfully driven ball in across the face of goal. NICK WATT raced in at the far post to take full advantage of the delivery and in so doing rounded off with a fine finish. The winger picked out the top right hand corner via the frame of the goal with an unstoppable shot as the keeper watched on helplessly.
Having taken the lead, Eastleigh had a good chance to make it 2-0 but Ben White stumbled backwards when the opportunity of a free header arrived.
Tonbridge Angels took a very aggressive approach to the game in an attempt to unsettle their youthful opponents, which left Eastleigh on the receiving end of some nasty tackles. This fact was not helped by the referee giving little or no protection to the players safety a lot of the time throughout the game.
Nine minutes before the break James Powell was in the right place, at the right time as he followed in a parry off the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
In the second minute of injury time added on at the end of the first half, Eastleigh skipper Tom Nicholas was unfortunate enough to head past his own goalkeeper and into the net to give Tonbridge a chance of finding a way back into the match.
Luke Byles had put in a commanding performance and no doubt helped to influence a very inexperienced side as he was dropped to the reserves side this week. It has been speculated that there was a slight disagreement between the defender and manager Ian Baird at training and that for that reason could possibly explain Byles' appearance this afternoon for Paul Wiltshire and Wayne Mew's side.
It was Byles who so nearly restored Eastleigh's two goal cushion just a minute into the second half but his header from a corner kick was cleared off the line by a man standing on the far post.
Other than a few half chances, from here on it was mainly the visitors who looked most likely to score.
They certainly threatened an equaliser and tested goalkeeper Freddie Toomer on a handful of occasions.
Their first attempt of note in the second half saw Toomer forced into a hurried clearance under pressure, the ball falling onto the foot of a thankful opponent. As the ball was lobbed back towards the Eastleigh goal, Toomer had just about regained his position but spilled the ball initially before diving on it at the second attempt.
Toomer was certainly the busier of the goalkeepers and had to force the ball around the post to deny a well struck effort from range moments later.
Adam Wiltshire tried his best to find an opening on the hour mark as he dodged and weaved several challenges in the penalty area showing good composure and skill to force a corner kick.
Tonbridge Angels were once again denied by Toomer, who palmed the ball around the post to keep out a free kick in the 77th minute.
With six minutes remaining Nick Watt's corner on the near side hung in the air for what seemed like an age and when it finally came down was headed against the woodwork.
The Angels were not finished looking for a late goal to save two points and again forced a save out of Toomer with time running down.
Eastleigh looked dangerous on the break in the closing moments of the game and may have just grabbed an extra goal to make it safe but it was not necessary in the end as they ran out 2-1 winners.
Suburban Premier League
TEAM: Fred Toomer, Adam Gastcumb, Aaron Blaxall, Tom Nicholas (c), Luke Byles, Adam Wiltshire, James Powell, Joe Crook, Scott Waters, Ben White, Nick Watt.
Subs: Todd (on for Wiltshire 81), Hall (on for Powell 83), Lane (on for White 88).
By Jamie Montigue
Eastleigh's second string made a promising start to the game with James Powell coming closest early on, his shot saved well by the visiting keeper low at his near post.
Ben White had the ball in the back of the net in the tenth minute for the Spitfires but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside.
The early pressure paid dividends as Eastleigh took the lead just eight minutes later following an extremely well worked move. White's sublime header from a ball forward was perfectly into the path of right sided mifielder Powell who overlapped well to side foot a powerfully driven ball in across the face of goal. NICK WATT raced in at the far post to take full advantage of the delivery and in so doing rounded off with a fine finish. The winger picked out the top right hand corner via the frame of the goal with an unstoppable shot as the keeper watched on helplessly.
Having taken the lead, Eastleigh had a good chance to make it 2-0 but Ben White stumbled backwards when the opportunity of a free header arrived.
Tonbridge Angels took a very aggressive approach to the game in an attempt to unsettle their youthful opponents, which left Eastleigh on the receiving end of some nasty tackles. This fact was not helped by the referee giving little or no protection to the players safety a lot of the time throughout the game.
Nine minutes before the break James Powell was in the right place, at the right time as he followed in a parry off the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
In the second minute of injury time added on at the end of the first half, Eastleigh skipper Tom Nicholas was unfortunate enough to head past his own goalkeeper and into the net to give Tonbridge a chance of finding a way back into the match.
HALF TIME: Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Tonbridge Angels Res.
Luke Byles had put in a commanding performance and no doubt helped to influence a very inexperienced side as he was dropped to the reserves side this week. It has been speculated that there was a slight disagreement between the defender and manager Ian Baird at training and that for that reason could possibly explain Byles' appearance this afternoon for Paul Wiltshire and Wayne Mew's side.
It was Byles who so nearly restored Eastleigh's two goal cushion just a minute into the second half but his header from a corner kick was cleared off the line by a man standing on the far post.
Other than a few half chances, from here on it was mainly the visitors who looked most likely to score.
They certainly threatened an equaliser and tested goalkeeper Freddie Toomer on a handful of occasions.
Their first attempt of note in the second half saw Toomer forced into a hurried clearance under pressure, the ball falling onto the foot of a thankful opponent. As the ball was lobbed back towards the Eastleigh goal, Toomer had just about regained his position but spilled the ball initially before diving on it at the second attempt.
Toomer was certainly the busier of the goalkeepers and had to force the ball around the post to deny a well struck effort from range moments later.
Adam Wiltshire tried his best to find an opening on the hour mark as he dodged and weaved several challenges in the penalty area showing good composure and skill to force a corner kick.
Tonbridge Angels were once again denied by Toomer, who palmed the ball around the post to keep out a free kick in the 77th minute.
With six minutes remaining Nick Watt's corner on the near side hung in the air for what seemed like an age and when it finally came down was headed against the woodwork.
The Angels were not finished looking for a late goal to save two points and again forced a save out of Toomer with time running down.
Eastleigh looked dangerous on the break in the closing moments of the game and may have just grabbed an extra goal to make it safe but it was not necessary in the end as they ran out 2-1 winners.
FULL TIME: Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Tonbridge Angels Res.
The best footballing performance i have seen at the silverlake this season, and i included the first team in that. The reserves are a very young side, but play football the right way, so keep it going lads!
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