In-form Farnborough end Spitfires home run
EASTLEIGH 0-1 FARNBOROUGH
SATURDAY 3rd MARCH 2012
Blue Square Bet South
Match report by Jamie Montigue
Match pictures courtesy of Graeme Horobin
Eastleigh's unbeaten home run in the league came to a halt as Farnborough won courtesy of a second half penalty from Phillip Page.
The Spitfires, who had leapt up to sixth in the table after beating Truro City 3-1 last weekend, were beaten by a solitary goal to a Farnborough side who have now won six of their last seven games.
Ian Baird made three changes to the side that made it eleven games without defeat at the Silverlake Stadium in the Blue Square Bet South against Truro. Philip Appiah came in for the suspended Jamie Brown in midfield; new signing Lee Phillips made his debut starting in place of Jamie Slabber in attack and Michael Green came back into the starting eleven to replace Damian Scannell - who wasn’t fit enough to start due to illness but was named amongst the substitutes.
February’s divisional player of the month Bradley Bubb, who has netted nine goals in eight appearances for the Spitfires since joining the club on loan from Aldershot Town, lined up against one of his former clubs Farnborough as did midfielders Philip Appiah and Daryl McMahon.
Eastleigh went into the match looking to secure a double over Farnborough for the first time after a 3-1 win against today's opponents back in November.
The Spitfires lined up with five at the back - three centre backs: Andy Forbes, Tom Jordan and Gary Elphick with Mitchell Nelson and Michael Green set the task of providing the width and pushing forward as wing backs.
In the opening minutes of the game a shaky clearance from Farnborough captain Orlando Jeffrey saw the ball spin back towards his own goal with Eastleigh’s debutant Lee Phillips in pursuit, though goalkeeper Craig Bradshaw got to the ball first.
The first attempt at goal came in the eighth minute when Nelson got forward down the right hand side and played the ball into the centre. Lee Phillips dummied the ball leaving it for Danny Smith to strike at goal from 18 yards, which narrowly flew over the bar.
Two minutes later, Andy Forbes up from the back had a good chance to fire Eastleigh into the lead but failed to steer his effort on target from inside the Farnborough box.
Eastleigh continued to have the better of the chances in the first quarter of an hour when a McMahon free kick was floated to the back post. The ball was hung up well for Tom Jordan but it was just out of the captain’s reach and went out of play.
Farnborough's Daniel Bennett saw his turn and shot go over the bar in the 21st minute.
Jack Dovey had to be alert to the threat of former AFC Totton striker Michael Charles just past the half way stage in the first half, as the Farnborough forward got the better of Tom Jordan. Dovey rushed off his line to make an important intervention.
The closest the game came to an opening goal came when Gary Elphick rose to meet Mitchell Nelson’s cross. The towering centre back’s header was heading for the top corner and had to be met by an excellent finger tip save from Bradshaw.
Ten minutes before the break a free kick from Boro’s Phillip Page was fired straight into the Eastleigh wall. The Spitfires went straight down the other end of the pitch where Appiah got himself into a good position but Bubb inadvertently blocked his team mate’s path.
Farnborough were forced into an early change when Marcus Moody replaced Ashley Winn.
The last action of the first half saw Page hit a fine effort from distance that was deflected on its way through to Jack Dovey, who saved well.
Philip Appiah was booked on the stroke of half time despite looking to have won the ball.
Early in the second half a good run from Lee Phillips at the heart of the Farnborough defence saw the former Bath City striker look to put the hosts on the front foot; but his pass in search of Bradley Bubb didn't quite come off.
In the 50th minute Danny Smith played the ball to Daryl McMahon, who crossed well with his right foot. Bubb lined up a shot looking to connect with the delivery but Douglas Bergqvist made an important headed interception to prevent a strike at goal.
Soon after an Andy Forbes half volley was off target.
The game’s turning point came just prior to the hour mark when a penalty was awarded for an innocuous challenge by Mitchell Nelson on Michael Charles. PHILLIP PAGE stepped up to the mark and drilled home the penalty convincingly to open the scoring, leaving Dovey little chance.
Eastleigh immediately made a change after conceding, with Scott Rogers coming on in place of Philip Appiah.
Ian Baird’s second substitution came very quickly as well with Andy Forbes making way for Damian Scannell in the 59th minute. The Spitfires changed their shape reverting to a flat back four with four in midfield and two up front in the hope of turning their fortunes around in this game.
The final change from Eastleigh saw Jamie Slabber come on for Lee Phillips. Phillips led the line well in his first game for the club with some good hold-up play but never really had a chance come his way.
In the 71st minute, Daniel Bennett made a good run across the Eastleigh penalty area when the ball fell for Page, who off-balance, shot comfortably over the bar.
Eastleigh looked to finish the game the stronger side but try as they might, couldn’t find an equalising goal.
Slabber fed the ball to Scannell whose shot was blocked. Moments later in the final ten minutes, Daryl McMahon’s powerful driven shot was charged down well by the stubborn Farnborough defence.
From a corner, Scott Rogers cushioned a header into the path of Slabber, who in turn aimed a header goal wards that failed to trouble the Yellows’ goalkeeper.
With 90 minutes on the clock, a free kick from the goal scorer Phillip Page (whose penalty proved decisive), beat the Eastleigh wall but went wide of goal.
The Spitfires twice came close to drawing level in injury time with Michael Green’s well executed goal bound volley turned away superbly for a corner kick, and then Tom Jordan seeing a header cleared off the line by Miles Smith as Farnborough held on for three points.
The Spitfires, who had leapt up to sixth in the table after beating Truro City 3-1 last weekend, were beaten by a solitary goal to a Farnborough side who have now won six of their last seven games.
Ian Baird made three changes to the side that made it eleven games without defeat at the Silverlake Stadium in the Blue Square Bet South against Truro. Philip Appiah came in for the suspended Jamie Brown in midfield; new signing Lee Phillips made his debut starting in place of Jamie Slabber in attack and Michael Green came back into the starting eleven to replace Damian Scannell - who wasn’t fit enough to start due to illness but was named amongst the substitutes.
February’s divisional player of the month Bradley Bubb, who has netted nine goals in eight appearances for the Spitfires since joining the club on loan from Aldershot Town, lined up against one of his former clubs Farnborough as did midfielders Philip Appiah and Daryl McMahon.
Eastleigh went into the match looking to secure a double over Farnborough for the first time after a 3-1 win against today's opponents back in November.
The Spitfires lined up with five at the back - three centre backs: Andy Forbes, Tom Jordan and Gary Elphick with Mitchell Nelson and Michael Green set the task of providing the width and pushing forward as wing backs.
In the opening minutes of the game a shaky clearance from Farnborough captain Orlando Jeffrey saw the ball spin back towards his own goal with Eastleigh’s debutant Lee Phillips in pursuit, though goalkeeper Craig Bradshaw got to the ball first.
The first attempt at goal came in the eighth minute when Nelson got forward down the right hand side and played the ball into the centre. Lee Phillips dummied the ball leaving it for Danny Smith to strike at goal from 18 yards, which narrowly flew over the bar.
Two minutes later, Andy Forbes up from the back had a good chance to fire Eastleigh into the lead but failed to steer his effort on target from inside the Farnborough box.
Eastleigh continued to have the better of the chances in the first quarter of an hour when a McMahon free kick was floated to the back post. The ball was hung up well for Tom Jordan but it was just out of the captain’s reach and went out of play.
Farnborough's Daniel Bennett saw his turn and shot go over the bar in the 21st minute.
Jack Dovey had to be alert to the threat of former AFC Totton striker Michael Charles just past the half way stage in the first half, as the Farnborough forward got the better of Tom Jordan. Dovey rushed off his line to make an important intervention.
The closest the game came to an opening goal came when Gary Elphick rose to meet Mitchell Nelson’s cross. The towering centre back’s header was heading for the top corner and had to be met by an excellent finger tip save from Bradshaw.
Ten minutes before the break a free kick from Boro’s Phillip Page was fired straight into the Eastleigh wall. The Spitfires went straight down the other end of the pitch where Appiah got himself into a good position but Bubb inadvertently blocked his team mate’s path.
Farnborough were forced into an early change when Marcus Moody replaced Ashley Winn.
The last action of the first half saw Page hit a fine effort from distance that was deflected on its way through to Jack Dovey, who saved well.
Philip Appiah was booked on the stroke of half time despite looking to have won the ball.
HALF TIME: Eastleigh 0-0 Farnborough
Early in the second half a good run from Lee Phillips at the heart of the Farnborough defence saw the former Bath City striker look to put the hosts on the front foot; but his pass in search of Bradley Bubb didn't quite come off.
In the 50th minute Danny Smith played the ball to Daryl McMahon, who crossed well with his right foot. Bubb lined up a shot looking to connect with the delivery but Douglas Bergqvist made an important headed interception to prevent a strike at goal.
Soon after an Andy Forbes half volley was off target.
The game’s turning point came just prior to the hour mark when a penalty was awarded for an innocuous challenge by Mitchell Nelson on Michael Charles. PHILLIP PAGE stepped up to the mark and drilled home the penalty convincingly to open the scoring, leaving Dovey little chance.
Eastleigh immediately made a change after conceding, with Scott Rogers coming on in place of Philip Appiah.
Ian Baird’s second substitution came very quickly as well with Andy Forbes making way for Damian Scannell in the 59th minute. The Spitfires changed their shape reverting to a flat back four with four in midfield and two up front in the hope of turning their fortunes around in this game.
The final change from Eastleigh saw Jamie Slabber come on for Lee Phillips. Phillips led the line well in his first game for the club with some good hold-up play but never really had a chance come his way.
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| Debut: Lee Phillips |
Eastleigh looked to finish the game the stronger side but try as they might, couldn’t find an equalising goal.
Slabber fed the ball to Scannell whose shot was blocked. Moments later in the final ten minutes, Daryl McMahon’s powerful driven shot was charged down well by the stubborn Farnborough defence.
From a corner, Scott Rogers cushioned a header into the path of Slabber, who in turn aimed a header goal wards that failed to trouble the Yellows’ goalkeeper.
With 90 minutes on the clock, a free kick from the goal scorer Phillip Page (whose penalty proved decisive), beat the Eastleigh wall but went wide of goal.
The Spitfires twice came close to drawing level in injury time with Michael Green’s well executed goal bound volley turned away superbly for a corner kick, and then Tom Jordan seeing a header cleared off the line by Miles Smith as Farnborough held on for three points.
FULL TIME: Eastleigh 0-1 Farnborough
You came up against a team fired up by a 5 point deduction earlier in the week,simple as that.
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