Away win sees Spitfires come from behind to lift four league places

DORCHESTER TOWN v EASTLEIGH



TUESDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2009
Blue Square South

Report by Ray Murphy

Following on from their epic FA Cup clash at Barrow three days earlier, Eastleigh took the field at a fog-covered Dorchester on Tuesday evening. Jason Matthews and Andy Forbes both were missing from the starting line up through injury allowing 20-year -old goalkeeper Steve Arnold, currently trialling at Brentford having previously played for Norwich City and Grays Athletic; a debut in goal. Aaron Cook also returned to the side having been ineligible at the weekend.

The evening did not start well for Eastleigh. Through the mist former Bashley striker Ryan Moss shot the hosts ahead after only six minutes as it looked as though Eastleigh may have been still suffering from the memory of their cup exit.

The fears that lingered though soon disappeared unlike the fog until the half time break when the fog eventually disappeared as quickly as it had rolled in across the ground. Within two minutes of the opening goal Eastleigh had turned to hold the upper hand and eventually at the end of the match for the second game running the home goalkeeper this time Regan Coward was awarded the man of the match award.

On eight minutes Jamie Brown returning to his former club saw a low shot saved by Coward then six minutes later Brown set up Riviere who saw a shot blocked thus diverting off target. Eastleigh were then awarded a penalty on fifteen minutes, ex-Spitfire Ashley Vickers the culprit as he bundled over Tom Jordan but Brett Poate's thunderous spot kick was beaten away by Coward, Peter Adeniyi’s rebound attempt also ending up in the ‘keepers hands.

Richard Gillespie slid a shot just wide on twenty minutes and seven minutes later Tony Taggart saw a shot saved by Coward, Coward recovering to deny Gillespie’s follow up.

Dorchester forced a breakaway on the half hour, again it was Moss but he shot straight at Arnold. It was deserved when Eastleigh finally bagged their equaliser a minute before half time. Poate's corner was cleared out of the danger area but only falling for Adeniyi to shoot home his second goal of the season. A superb stop by Coward a minute later from Brown’s header following a Gillespie cross denied Eastleigh being ahead at the interval.

Seven minutes into the second period Cook saw a header saved by Coward then six minutes later Gillespie’s turn and shot from the edge of the box went just over. Dorchester created a chance on the hour when Phil Walsh saw a header from Ian Selley's free kick saved by Arnold. Moss and substitute Matt Groves combined on sixty-six minutes allowing Moss a chance but his effort went straight into Arnold’s midriff. A minute later McAuley’s cross saw Adeniyi flick on but Taggart shot just wide of the target at the far post.

Moss had another chance on sixty-eight minutes being presented an opportunity with only Arnold to beat but Arnold stood firm to save. Riviere's drive from the edge of the box on seventy-seven minutes beat the diving Coward but struck the upright. The winner finally arrived on eighty minutes. The ever-improving Gillespie being the scorer after an excellent piece of footwork from Jamie White gave him the space to deliver a cross from the left flank, which Gillespie rose to head home.

Dorchester had a further chance to equalise five minutes later but Moss spurned his chance again whilst McAuley almost made the game safe two minutes from time but he saw yet another effort saved by Coward.