would have been quite happy to see the game abandoned at
that point even with the added problems it would have caused
to already overloaded fixture list. Unfortunately for
County though, the electricians restored some measure of
light, which if less than perfect, was certainly good enough
to justify referee Colin Lymer’s decision to resume after a
15 minute break.
County deserved no such reprieve, though fans wondered what
would have been the outcome if an Eastleigh handball which
blocked an early Craig Hughes cross had been deemed
intentional by Mr Lymer. Eastleigh caused tactical problems
all night with a 4-3-2-1 system with burly striker Steve
Watts a handful for John Brough, while Andy Forbes and the
strong-running Jamie Brown found space well. However, the
key to the success for the Hampshire side was more due to
their strength and superior skills on the night than any
tactical mystery.
If County thought they had a claim for a penalty there was
no doubting the merits of the spot-kick award for Eastleigh
on 19 minutes when Mark Ovendale appeared to hesitate when
coming out to meet a weak back header from Ian Hillier and
Watts looked favourite to score before the County keeper
brought him down. There was widespread relief from the away
fans when Mr Lymer decided only to produce a yellow card and
his leniency could have proved ironic because Oven Gloves
was very close to saving Forbes’ spot-kick. Worse was to
follow two minutes later for County when a static defence
failed to deal with a routine cross from Forbes on the right
and home skipper Danny Smith stole in to score his first
league goal of the season. Shortly after play resumed after
the lights were restored, Kris Leek was introduced in place
of the limping Lee Collier for his first league appearance
of the season and almost immediately County started to raise
their game with the probing running of the Hartridge Academy
product.
The diminutive midfield man appeared to have reduced the
arrears when his 40th minute shot from 20 yards beat James
Pullen in the home goal, but the view in the grandstand
provided an optical illusion because it flashed inches to
disturb the netting on the rebound from the barriers behind
the goal. Leek did provide a breakthrough in the 52nd
minute with a lovely through ball for Craig Hughes which
Guppy controlled, possibly with the help of his hand, before
producing a perfect finish. The Eastleigh players protested
with some fury, but the goal stood and Hughes now has 19 to
his credit this season. At this stage County looked well
capable of salvaging a result as the home players looked
tentative, and chances fell to Brough and Charlie Griffin to
equalise before the home side struck again in the 70th
minute.
It was a goal that no side at this level should concede,
because when Liam Green played the ball back from near the
corner flag to Smith who was around 30 yards out, the
defenders failed to observe the golden rule that you move
out to deny space. County continued to sit deep and the
Eastleigh captain played it forward to Forbes who had time
and space to control, turn and shoot past Ovendale. Sam
O’Sullivan made a lively late contribution after replacing
Richard Evans but that was the end of the goal action and
County were left to contemplate a well below par
performance. Only Leek and Hughes can feel satisfied with
their displays and when only two of the team are on their
game, you can expect nothing.
Line Ups:
Eastleigh: Pullen, Mustafa, Benali, Brown, West, El-Salahi,
Smith (C), Forbes, Watts (Wilson-Denis 83),
Green, Wheeler (Oliver 66). Subs not
used: Marshall, George, Harris.
County: Ovendale, Hillier, Searle, Davies, Brough,
Edwards (O’Sullivan 76), Bowen, Collier (Leek 35),
Griffin, Hughes, Evans. Subs not used:
Prosser, Brewer, Giles.
Goals:
Eastleigh: Andy Forbes (19 pen, 70), Danny Smith (21).
County: Craig Hughes (52).
Cautions:
Eastleigh: El-Salahi (kicking ball away 7), Benali
(dissent 74), Watts (foul 80).
County: Ovendale (foul 18), Brough
(foul 32).
Officials:
Referee: Colin Lymer (Mayford)
Assistants: Roy Marsh (Waterlooville) and Antony Foster (Portchester).
Man of the Match:
Eastleigh: Jamie Brown.
County: Kris Leek.
Attendance: 623
Match rating: 3/5
