Three wins in a row as Spitfires seal super win over promotion rivals City

EASTLEIGH v CHELMSFORD CITY



SATURDAY 7th FEBRUARY 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh today secured a tremendous result over promotion hopefuls Chelmsford City. A third consecutive victory for the Spitfires sees Ian Baird's side up to third in the Blue Square South and has narrowed the gap to keep the pressure on both Chelmsford and league leaders AFC Wimbledon in a fine team performance. What impact will winning this six-pointer have on the outcome of the title race remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure is that Eastleigh can be very proud of achieving a result as important as this and the manner in which they went out about it.

It was a miracle in itself that the game went ahead and tribute has to be paid to those club officials and fans who gave up their time this morning to fork the pitch. This effort gave the game every chance of being played despite the recent snow which forced Tuesday's nights home game with St. Albans to be postponed once again, and, as a result the referee deemed the pitch playable on his inspection.

Jonny Dixon recovered from injury in place of Matt Groves, one of the goalscorers in the 4-0 away win at Dorchester Town, as the only change to the starting line up from last weekend's commanding win. It would appear that this would prove to be Dixon's farewell game for the club after Brighton & Hove Albion manager Micky Adams has informed Baird of his intentions to recall the forward from his brief loan spell at the Silverlake Stadium.

The hosts made a bright start to the game with Tony Taggart playing the ball to his left to find Dixon who in turn sent a teasing low, left-footed delivery across the face of goal. The cross caused panic inside the Chelmsford six-yard box and centre back Steve Ward so nearly turned the ball past his own goalkeeper Danny Gay. Fortunately for the visitors Gay was alert to the danger and managed to keep the ball out as Eastleigh won a corner kick.

An in-swinging corner from Taggart increased the pressure on City inside the opening stages with skipper Andy Duncan having to head behind for a further Eastleigh set piece.

In the 11th minute Warren Goodhind sent the ball down the right channel where Jamie Brown chested expertly down into the path of Anthony Riviere. The former Fisher Athletic midfielder sent a lofted pass into the box in search of Dixon only for Gay to rush out of goal well and put an end to the free-flowing neat move.

Only three minutes later, Eastleigh took the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour. A direct ball up the park from Jason Matthews was nodded back by Brown for ANTHONY RIVIERE to take into his stride and shoot early with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area. Riviere's effort could not have been better placed as the ball was beyond the reach of the keeper and nestled low, right in the very corner of goal.

Warren Goodhind was in truly inspired form in what was arguably his best ever performance for Eastleigh. Thanks to his experience and expertise, Warren was well-placed to deal calmly with what could have been an instant reply from Chelmsford to cancel out Riviere's goal just sixty seconds earlier.

Lawrie Dudfield collided with Jason Matthews and Tom Jordan on the edge of the Eastleigh penalty area, which could have spelled disaster as Oliver Berquez found the ball at his feet and Matthews out of his goal. Aaron Martin made a great block to keep out the first attempt before Goodhind got back to cover his goalkeeper and avert the danger with a terrific goal line clearance.

There was little more threat or penetration from the visitors in the first half, though on the rare occasions when Eastleigh found themselves on the back foot momentarily, the defence of Goodhind, Martin, Jordan and Byles stood firm, kept their shape well with a high line and just generally looked neat, tidy and organised.

Young centre back Aaron Martin celebrated earning a contract this week having kept clean sheets in recent games not to mention scoring goals and forming a solid partnership at the back with Tom Jordan. The 19-year-old had the task of dealing with the physical presence of tricky customer Lawrie Dudfield but handled the job impeccably.

The visitors had to wait 41 minutes before their first shot on target. Ricky Holmes skipped past two challenges as he cut in from the right though his left-footed drive lacked power and posed no threat to Jason Matthews as the Spitfires held a well-deserved lead at the break.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 1–0 Chelmsford City

Jeff King's Clarets improved at the start of the second half and began at a good pace after the restart.

Almost immediately a penalty claim was turned down. The early scare came about as Dudfield went to ground claiming he was tugged by Ashley Carew however referee Richard Kendall was uninterested.

In contrast, at the opposite end of the field Tom Jordan was fouled around 25-yards from goal. Carew was the man to step up and take the free kick in this glorious position but squandered the opportunity curling the ball around the wall and harmlessly off target.

Dudfield had the ball in the back of the net with 50 minutes played as he slipped the ball through the legs of Jason Matthews, though the whistle had already gone for offside.

Chelmsford stepped up a gear or two and began to create chances. Oliver Berquez slipped the ball to his left to find Dudfield who lost his footing to the left of goal though still managed to fire a left-footed shot towards goal as he tumbled. The effort took a deflection to divert the ball out for a corner kick.

Sam Sloma was then denied by Matthews from a mid-ranged free kick before Ricky Holmes cut in from the right flank and flashed a shot wide of goal soon after.

Eastleigh had come through this tough spell and went about trying to conjure up some chances of their own to recapture their first half form.

An exquisite cross from Tony Taggart was so inviting and only needed someone to gamble and attack the far post shortly after the hour mark.

The Eastleigh fans were in great voice and created an atmosphere as good as I have ever known in my time of watching the Spitfires as they constantly sung their hearts out to get behind their team.

828 were in attendance to see this top of the table clash and went home thoroughly entertained as the game continued to unfold.

Tom Jordan had a header from a Taggart corner stopped en-route to goal and it was just a matter of waiting for the all important next goal. On the balance of play it looked like if a goal would come it would be heading Eastleigh's way.

The next chance fell to the Spitfires with Dixon sending the ball down the near touchline to set Adeniyi free who had broken the offside trap. Having got into the penalty area the towering midfielder shot straight at the keeper after four or five step-overs to lose the attention of James Lawson and create a yard of space.

Keeping the momentum going, Riviere was the next to come close following good work by Taggart and Adeniyi. The goalscorer received the ball to the right of goal and was denied by the legs of Danny Gay. From the resulting corner, JAMIE BROWN leapt highest to meet Taggart's fine delivery with an unstoppable bullet header for his fifth league goal of the season. This was the icing on the cake for Brown who had got his just rewards to find himself on the scoresheet. Once again the lion heart ran the line so tirelessly, full of enthusiasm and commitment. The Chelmsford defence were constantly harried by Brown's work rate and didn't have a moments peace.

Twelve minutes from time City substitute CHRIS MOORE rounded off a sweeping move to turn the ball home with his left foot to make an important impact for his side and set up a tense finish to the encounter with the goal that halved the deficit.

Former Spitfire's winger Kevin James had a free kick sliced behind for a corner by Adeniyi with ten minutes remaining. Ashley Harrison so nearly scored with his first touch of the ball seconds after entering the action as his side-foot effort was heading for the top corner only for Peter to get a vital touch with a header to nod the ball over the bar.

Brett Williams replaced Jonny Dixon before Steve Clark came back from weeks on the sideline when he saw out the closing minutes of the game in place of Ashley Carew.

Eastleigh's final change saw Jamie Brown receive a standing ovation for his afternoon's work when Matt Groves took to the field.

Taggart came close to killing the game off but his shot ricocheted off Steve Ward before rolling safely through to the keeper.

There was one last chance for the visitors when Chris Moore headed wide from a Kevin James free kick. The last of the action had the crowd on their feet as Matt Groves had a guilt-edged chance inside injury time. Steve Clark broke away down the left and opted to square the ball as opposed to going for goal himself. Groves had a couple of attempts but couldn't quite find a way through. It didn't matter as Eastleigh had already done enough to secure an excellent 2-1 win.

On this form, things are looking very bright for Eastleigh. It was fantastic to see so many outstanding performances right across the team. Come on you Spitfires!

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2–1 Chelmsford City