Eastleigh Baptist Football Club

A high scoring game of 2 halves on a good day for English sport

(England 3 Estonia 0 Euro 2008 Qualifier; England 14 France 9 Rugby World Cup Semi Final) 

Testwood b 2 v 4 Eastleigh Baptist

The home team won the toss handing KO and the opportunity to exert some early pressure on the match to the away team. No sooner had Roy Bega (Eddie Large) blown his whistle for the first time, Eastleigh were attacking with good early play in midfield by T.Hillman and G.Rayner and down the right wing through J.Pearman. The first goal came as a result of this early dominance by Eastleigh and a cross-come-shot by Graham Knock the Eastleigh right-back sailed into the top corner at the far post to make it 0-1. From the re-start Eastleigh once again had the upper hand and the game began to settle and take shape with strong midfield play by the away team split up with some positive attacks by the tricky Testwood right-winger and some comedy ‘Grobbelaar’ keeping by the guesting Eastleigh GK. The 2^nd goal for Eastleigh soon came resulting in a close range shot by Jim Reading after a T.Hillman flick 0-2.

Eastleigh were the stronger team in the first half and restricted Testwood to hopeful through balls that were easily dealt with by L.McNeela and the commanding Martyn Pegram in defence. The scoreline maybe should have been more, in favour of the away team at the break and it was unfortunate that the endless chasing of lost causes and battling down the left wing by I.Whalen didn’t result in more goals.

Half time 0-2

After the break Testwood looked a much stronger side and forced a number of good attacking plays early on through the strong ‘Benjani’ like substitute up front and the very skilful no’8 in midfield. However they were unable to turn their positive attacks into any shots to trouble ‘Grobbelaar’ – although at one point a red Nissan Micra looked in danger after another wayward effort.

A goal for the home team was coming though and indeed arrived when the creative no.8 found the ‘upper 90’ with cross/shot (from a similar position as the opening goal) and he was away in celebration 1-2. Testwood were now back in the game and perhaps a 2^nd goal sooner may have caused a different outcome, but Eastleigh dug in and battled well and won the midfield and scored their 3^rd at just the right time to restore the 2 goal margin. The goal was scored with a cool finish by Dean Smith after being pushed forward into midfield from his usual central defence role and good work by S.Ranjan. Testwood again didn’t lie down and another gem of a player came off the bench to cause problems up-front. With almost his first touch he was put through down the middle and beat the hapless ‘Grobbelaar’ to the ball and poked it past the keeper into the empty net 2-3.

Eastleigh again fought hard and didn’t allow the home team to build on their goal and strong displays in midfield forced Testwood back with Eastleigh battling well for the final 15 minutes resulting with a number of good chances (and a disallowed goal) for the away team and a deserved 4^th goal to see off the home side’s fight back. The goal came from a cool Gary Rayner free-kick that flew into the top right-hand corner through the flapping grasp of the Testwood keeper from 20-25 yards 2-4.

All in all Eastleigh deserved their win and dominated the game although Testwood came to life in the second half. Eastleigh are now unbeaten in 4 games, winning 3 of the last 4 matches.

Eastleigh: T.Fielder ©, G.Knock (goal), D.Smith (goal), M.Pegram, L.McNeela, J.Pearman, T.Hillman, G.Rayner (Goal), I.Whalen, S.Ranjan, J.Reading (goal), J.Hewlett