Eastleigh FC

WOKING 0-0 EASTLEIGH MONDAY 31st AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South Report by Ray Murphy With Shaun McAuley failing a late fitness test and Tony Taggart serving the last of his three match suspension, Eastleigh fielded the same side that had started against Dover Athletic forty eight hours earlier. If you had offered Eastleigh supporters a point from this game against third placed Woking relegated from last season’s Premier Division, Eastleigh would probably have welcomed the point. This was an entertaining goalless draw though the game did take time to get rolling. The first chance did not arrive until the fourteenth minute when a long-range effort from Woking’s Tom Ricketts skimmed the top of the Eastleigh bar. Two minutes later Peter Adeniyi’s shot on the turn was just the wrong side of the upright. Giuseppe Sole got in behind the Eastleigh defence on seventeen minutes but shot wide of the target with only Jason Matthews to beat. As play switched to the Eastleigh penalty area Harry Ar

EASTLEIGH 1-2 DOVER ATHLETIC SATURDAY 29th AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh slipped to their fourth successive Saturday defeat against the early Blue Square South pace setters and last season's Ryman League champions Dover Athletic. Still missing both first choice wingers in Shaun McAuley and Tony Taggart as well as the influential Jamie Brown Eastleigh gave a second debut to James Taylor on a month's loan from AFC Totton. The visitors were first to show as an attacking force and Eastleigh were shell-shocked to be behind on forty seconds. A long throw into the Eastleigh six-yard box from Shaun Welford saw hesitation in the Eastleigh defence, which allowed Frannie Collin to prod Dover ahead. Dover almost added a second goal within a minute. A cross-cum-shot from John Wallis was clawed away by Jason Matthews. On fifteen minutes though, a low drive from Nicky Southall was pushed down by Matthews but only to the feet of Collin to hammer the ball into

By Wendy Gee - JAMES Taylor’s appearance for AFC Totton in their 1-0 win at Hungerford Town last night could be his last for a month for the Stags. The no-nonsense targetman is being lined up for a return to his old club Eastleigh as loan cover for ankle victim Jamie Brown, who is highly doubtful for Saturday’s visit of Blue Square South leaders Dover Athletic. In return, Totton would loan Eastleigh’s lively, young frontrunner Brett Williams who has so far failed to match the highs of last season and could do with regaining some confidence in a lower league. For Taylor, 35, the proposed loan deal would mark his second spell at the Silverlake following a brief stay under Paul Doswell's charge in 2005/06. Ironically it was current Eastleigh boss Ian Baird who had allowed him to leave Havant & Waterlooville where he was likely to play second fiddle to Dean Holdsworth. But that decision soon backfired when Holdsworth left the Hawks to become assistant manager of Derby County Af

AFC Totton forward James Taylor could be the man brought in to replace the injured Jamie Brown as Ian Baird looks to strengthen his side. Eastleigh's Director of Football Dave Malone revealed that should the formalities be completed, Brett Williams will be heading in the opposite direction. The statement read as follows: "Our supporters should be aware that we are negotiating with AFC Totton a possible loan exchange, which involves James Taylor joining EFC and Brett Williams going to AFC Totton. "Both Clubs have agreed on a one month loan period, and we are hopeful of concluding the formalities within the next 48 hours. Obviously the injury on Saturday to Jamie Brown has highlighted our need for cover for him, and James Taylor is a very experienced and highly regarded player, who previously played for our Manager at Havant & Waterlooville. Similarly, we trust that Brett will be given an opportunity at Totton to progress and improve his game at 1st team level. &quo

By Wendy Gee - Eastleigh face an anxious wait to discover if they are going to lose frontline power house Jamie Brown to another costly injury. The hard-as-nails targetman lasted less than 20 minutes of Saturday’s Blue Square South match at Thurrock before limping off with an ankle problem. His premature exit cost the Spitfires dear in a 3-2 defeat that leaves them labouring in 13th place with just six points from a possible 15. Eastleigh were one up through Anthony Riviere when Brown limped off. And although they led again through Tom Jordan after David Bryant had pulled Thurrock back on terms, two more Bryant goals unhinged them after the break. “We were retaining the ball up front, but then Jamie went off and all of a sudden we weren’t,” said manager Ian Baird. “I said to coach Matt Gray that if we didn’t look after the ball better we were going to concede because it couldn’t keep coming back all the time, and that’s exactly what happened. “Brett Williams came on for Browner

By Wendy Gee - Eastleigh's Michael Green was last night set to swap places with Mike Gosney by joining AFC Totton on a month's loan. The 20-year-old left-sided player, who joined the Spitfires from Sydenhams League outfit Christchurch during the summer, is behind Brett Poate, Trevor Challis and Ian Oliver in the Eastleigh pecking order and has started the season in the reserves. Eastleigh added to their left-wing armoury last Friday by signing Gosney on loan for a month to cover in the absence of the suspended Tony Taggart and stomach bug victim Shaun McAuley. Totton, in turn, are short on cover on that side of the field, so the clubs have agreed for Green to spend a month at Testwood Park to get some Southern League experience under his belt. Eastleigh’s director of football David Malone clarified: “Michael is someone we hold in high regard and we wouldn’t let him go lightly on a longer term basis. He’s going to Totton because he needs experience and games.” Totton, away

Eastleigh Res. 3-3 Ash United Res. MONDAY 24th AUGUST 2009 TEAM: Dan Loader, Chris McDougall, Ian Oliver, Bruce Suraci, Nick Lane, Scott Gilham (C), Callum Davies, Adam Wiltshire, Brett Williams, Stuart Gates, Steve Hall. Subs: Mohammed Arahji (on for McDougall), Alex Easton (on for Gates). N/U: Aaron Blaxall, Aaron Todd. Goalscorers: Stuart Gates, Brett Williams, Steve Hall. Eastleigh reserves were 2-0 up at the break courtesy of goals from Stuart Gates and Brett Williams. Ash United got back to 2-2 including a penalty in the second half. Steve Hall scored directly from a corner to put the Spitfires 3-2 in front, however the visitors were to come back to level with an equaliser twenty minutes from time.

THURROCK 3-2 EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South A hat-trick by Thurrock's David Bryant was enough to ensure Eastleigh's start to the new campaign has got off to a win-less start on Saturday's. With five games played, the Spitfires have lost three matches in the regular 3:00pm weekend kick-offs whilst their two wins, both of which have been by emphatic scorelines, have come in the mid-week fixtures over Weymouth and Bromley. The fit-again Anthony Riviere, who returned in the 6-1 demolition of Bromley at the Silverlake Stadium on Tuesday night along with Jamie Brown, opened the scoring with a 12th minute opener before Bryant grabbed his first of afternoon with a 29th minute equaliser. Tom Jordan restored the visitors' lead to hand Ian Baird's side a 2-1 advantage at the break, but Bryant caused more damage in front of goal to complete a hat-trick, in the second half with his second coming shorty after the hour and the winning goal seven minutes f

Eastleigh Res. 2-2 Metropolitan Police Res. SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST 2009 TEAM: Lyall Beazley, Chris McDougall, Nick Lane, Scott Gilham (C), Mason Baptiste, Jason Brooks, Adam Wiltshire, Bruce Suraci, Steve Hall, John Chimoyo, Alex Easton. Subs: Prince Aminero, Callum Davies, Galza. N/U: Dan Loader. Goalscorers: Adam Wiltshire, Prince Aminero. After being 2-0 down at the break, Paul Wiltshire's reserve side put up a good fight in the second half to bring the scores level and secure a 2-2 draw.

The Club are pleased to announce that we have completed the loan signing of Michael Gosney from AFC Totton. The loan is for an initial period of one month. Gosney, who has been an important player for Totton for three or four years, will provide cover for our wide players - particularly bearing in mind that Tony Taggart is suspended for the next three games.

By Wendy Gee - Eastleigh will be praying that Spitfires old boy Matt Bodkin does not come back to haunt them tomorrow as they go in search of their first Saturday win of the season at Thurrock. Unbeaten Thurrock have had a useful start to the campaign, banking eight out of 12 points – two more than Eastleigh, who have suffered consecutive Saturday defeats against Braintree and St Albans. The Spitfires management team watched the Essex side draw 1-1 at Lewes on Wednesday night and team boss Ian Baird observed: “Thurrock are like any other side who start the season well – there’s an air confidence about them. “They carry a lot of threats, particularly in the two wide positions. “Matt Bodkin, who was with us last season (on loan from Grays Athletic), is a danger. “When he was at Eastleigh he showed good ability, but he wasn’t starting for us and he decided to go back to Grays. “I would like to have kept him because he did okay, but that’s water under the bridge now. We’ve got Tony

EASTLEIGH 6-1 BROMLEY TUESDAY 18th AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh manager Ian Baird rung the changes through the side following their 1-2 reversal at St Albans City on the Saturday for this Tuesday evening Blue Square South fixture. A welcome back to the side for their first appearances of the season were the influential midfielder Anthony Riviere and striker Jamie Brown. Warren Goodhind and Trevor Challis were brought in to occupy the full back roles, which left Steve Clark, Brett Williams, Peter Adeniyi and Brett Poate to start the evening on the substitutes bench. Eastleigh were off to a fine start opening the scoring on nine minutes with Andy Forbes guiding a header following a Tony Taggart right wing cross, past the rooted-to-the-spot Bromley goalkeeper Gareth A Williams. Eastleigh were all in the ascendancy and obviously on the lookout for more goals. Shaun McAuley had a long range drive that was saved by Williams then Forbes, Brown, McAuley a

ST. ALBANS 2-1 EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 15th AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh’s two most previous trips to St Albans have ended pointless for them and a disappointed side travelling back to Hampshire. Unfortunately this trip had the same outcome for the Eastleigh side. Although this was anything but a top drawer Eastleigh display, the record books will show that this was the story of two penalties that brought Eastleigh to their fate. Striker Brett Williams passed a late fitness test allowing manager Ian Baird to retain the same squad that had scored a five-goal victory at Weymouth some four days earlier. This time though the side barely had five attempts on goal let alone scoring more than one. St Albans City had recovered from their opening day defeat to score a home victory over Worcester City in the midweek but were without one of their better players in Paul Hakim who this season is unavailable on Saturday's owing to work commitments. Danny Smith saw a

WEYMOUTH 0-5 EASTLEIGH TUESDAY 11th AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South Report by Ray Murphy Three goals in the final six minutes of the first half turned a somewhat non descript opening period into a commanding Eastleigh performance. Former Weymouth goalkeeper Jason Matthews just passed a late fitness test to be able to turn out against his previous club whilst Eastleigh also fielded other ex-Weymouth players in Steve Clark and Tony Taggart with Trevor Challis amongst the substitutes. Weymouth for their part had former Eastleigh skipper Andy Harris in their midfield. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested until the latter stages of the half, Matthews spent a lot of time fielding back passes from his own defenders thus forcing him to kick up field but in general, both defences were in control of a drab affair. The first attempt on goal did not arrive until midway through the half with Brett Poate's cross being headed just over the bar by Shaun McAuley. Taggart started causing the hom

By Wendy Gee - JAMIE Brown will be kicking his heels on the sidelines once again tonight as Eastleigh attempt to get their first Blue Square South points on the board at Weymouth (7.45). But the player dubbed ‘the bionic man’ is determined that once his three-match suspension is out of the way after Saturday’s trip to St Albans, he will be putting his injury problems behind him and staking his claim for a shirt. Brown underwent an operation during the summer to remove the metal plate and screws inserted during major hip surgery last year and, realistically, manager Ian Baird hadn’t expected to see the warrior-like striker/midfielder back in action until September. But the 28-year-old looked fighting fit in a pre-match knock-about ahead of Saturday’s 2-1 opening day defeat by Braintree Town and spoke afterwards of his determination to start playing again as quickly as possible. “As soon as my suspension’s out of the way, I’ll be there knocking on the manager’s door,” he smiled. “I

EASTLEIGH 1-2 BRAINTREE TOWN SATURDAY 8th AUGUST 2009 Blue Square South Report by Jamie Montigue Eastleigh's opening day of the new league season got off to a miserable start this afternoon, as Braintree Town paid a visit to the Silverlake Stadium. After an impeccably observed minutes silence for footballing legend Sir Bobby Robson, which was carried out all around the country, Eastleigh showed some early promise but things quickly turned sour. Peter Adeniyi lofted a ball forward to Andy Forbes in the opening minute, who in turn chested the ball down into the path of Tony Taggart. The Spitfires’ top goalscorer from last year struck the ball on the volley, though his effort rifled harmlessly over the bar. The visitors were soon celebrating the opening goal of the game, the first here at the Silverlake Stadium of the new season, as Braintree Town found a way through the Eastleigh rearguard with a well-worked set piece that caught everybody off guard. With the Eastleigh defence t

EASTLEIGH 1-0 SALISBURY CITY SATURDAY 1st AUGUST 2009 Pre-Season Friendly Report by Jamie Montigue With less than a week until the new league season kicks off, local rivals Eastleigh and Salisbury City played out this pre-season friendly in miserable conditions this August afternoon at the Silverlake Stadium. The game as a contest was very evenly matched but the Spitfires had the better of the first half opportunities against their Blue Square Premier opponents. Tony Taggart scored the only goal of the game with a 35th minute glancing header across the goalkeeper and into the far corner following a pinpoint cross from Shaun McAuley. After a tight opening to the second half, Salisbury stepped their game up a gear in search of an equaliser but were thwarted on several occasions as Tom Jordan, Aaron Martin and co stood up to the challenge well when the visitors exerted late pressure. The Eastleigh defence stood solid, firm and well-disciplined to hold on to a morale boosting clean sh