Eastleigh 2-1 Eastbourne Borough

EASTLEIGH 2-1 EASTBOURNE BOROUGH
SATURDAY 31st MARCH 2012

Blue Square Bet South

Match report by Jamie Montigue

Eastleigh ended a run of five league games without victory by defeating Eastbourne Borough by two goals to one this afternoon. It was a positive way to react to the 6-1 mauling at the hands of Boreham Wood last weekend.

Three changes were made to the starting eleven with Tom Jordan, Danny Smith and Damian Scannell replacing Ben Wilson, Jamie Brown and Scott Rogers.

The first action of the game saw Eastleigh conjure up an excellent free-flowing move to carve open the visiting defence. Chris Flood carried the ball forward before combining down the right with Damian Scannell. The attack continued with Bradley Bubb playing a neat one-two with Lee Peacock inside the penalty area. Bubb found space and had a clear sight at goal where Clark Masters was forced into an early save.

From the resulting set piece, GARY ELPHICK, playing against his former club, opened his goal scoring account for the Spitfires to put Eastleigh ahead with just three minutes on the clock. The message from the Eastleigh players was one of mutual support for their manager Ian Baird as they ran to the dugout to celebrate the goal. Elphick found the net with a header from a Daryl McMahon cross.

In the seventh minute Alex Lacey headed wide of goal from a Matt Crabb corner. Two minutes later Ben Watson latched on to a through ball down the left before firing a low shot from a tight angle into the side netting.

Eastleigh's next opportunity came in the 17th minute when Danny Smith won the ball in midfield. Damian Scannell took over to run forward and put a shot just past the post from 25-yards.

Shortly after, a fine piece of skill from a grounded Bubb saw the Aldershot loanee scoop the ball past his marker from a sitting position before springing himself on to his feet only to drag a drilled, low shot off target.

Midway through the half there was an interesting incident where Matt Crabb lunged in on Danny Smith with a foul over the top of the ball. Both players were left in need of treatment from their respective physio's. Referee Charles Breakspear booked both Crabb and bizarrely Smith as well, who was awarded a free kick.

The game then went through a quiet spell where there was very little by way of goal mouth action. It wasn't until the 40th minute that the next half chance came with Eastbourne's Simon Johnson blazing a shot narrowly over Dovey's goal from the right.

Two minutes before the break, a long kick up the field by Jack Dovey fell for Bradley Bubb, who looked to have more time than he realised. Bubb, who has scored 10 goals for Eastleigh this season, opted for an early shot that was caught easily by Masters.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 1-0 Eastbourne Borough

Early in the second half, the hosts doubled their advantage through their skipper TOM JORDAN. Daryl McMahon's corner in to the Eastbourne penalty area was met by a firm header from Jordan to beat the keeper and find the net.

Even before this goal, Eastleigh had come out playing some great football in the opening minutes after the break with Danny Smith, Bradley Bubb and Darly McMahon all coming close with good efforts.

In the 58th minute, Lee Peacock flicked the ball to Damian Scannell whose shot was charged down for a corner.

Just past the hour mark, Daryl McMahon played a good pass to Bradley Bubb down the left who in turn back-heeled the ball into the path of Chris Flood. Flood got into the area with a good run but a heavy touch prevented a shot at goal.

Eastleigh's first change of the game saw Philip Appiah replace Scannell in the 64th minute.

Eastbourne improved as the game wore on and reduced the arrears through ELLIS REMY in the 68th minute. A throw-in came in to the Eastleigh box where Remy acrobatically connected with the ball to send an overhead kick past Jack Dovey.

The visitors had chances to go on to draw level with Chris Flood having to hack the ball off the line and later, Charles Ademeno racing through one on one and lofting a shot over Dovey that lacked sufficient power as Mitchell Nelson mopped up the danger.

Eastleigh substitute Lee Phillips (on for Peacock) came close to scoring nine minutes from time as he held off a couple of challenges and got a shot away that was deflected. The effort almost had the beating of goalkeeper Clark Masters as the ball looped towards goal.

Ellis Remy had a golden opportunity to add to his goal tally late in the game from a free header only to send it wide of the target.

Eastleigh saw out the game despite a spell of pressure from Tommy Widdrington's side who forced a number of second half corners in quick succession.

Next up for the Spitfires is a Good Friday fixture at home to Dorchester Town to start the Easter weekend.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 2-1 Eastbourne Borough

Eastbourne - 310312