Match Reports 06-07

Saturday 23 September

Conference South

County 3 Eastleigh 1

Eastleigh paid a heavy price for their inexplicable ill-discipline with referee Andy Williams dismissing three Spitfires’ players and sending manager Paul Doswell to the stands, all for foul and abusive language. In the end County were comfortable winners and played out the game in controversial circumstances.

County restored Craig Hughes and Julian Alsop to the starting line-up and welcomed back John Brough, with both Paul Cochlin and Sam O'Sullivan joining the bench.

County forced several goal-mouth scrambles and a clearance off the line in the early stages. The first half increasingly revolved around former Welsh international Jason Bowen. The vastly experienced captain Francis Benali was shown a straight red card for disputing a foul on Bowen in the eleventh minute only four minutes after a blocked Bowen shot had been screwed back by Julian Alsop for forward partner Craig Hughes to force the ball home at the near post.

Centre half Chris Collins nearly put the ball into his own net with a lobbed clearance which left keeper Paul Musselwhite standing before the mercurial Bowen both won and converted a penalty for the second goal in the 21st minute. County had ample possession and chances to extend their lead before Eastleigh rallied in the late stages of the half. The lively Andy Forbes was twice denied by home keeper Mark Ovendale before Wayne Purser wasted the best chance of the half, hitting a weak volley straight into the arms of Ovendale from only six yards.

Eastleigh started the second half as they had ended the first. The goal they threatened came only six minutes in, Wayne Purser dispossessing Tony Butler and striding thirty yards before firing a low shot under Ovendale with the home defence back-tracking. Within six minutes the game was effectively over. David Hughes had joined Benali in the dressing room before Hughes scored his second goal of the match. The unselfish Alsop squared the ball to Hughes instead of taking the shot and Hughes made no mistake with his angled shot.

Eastleigh, who lost to nine man Salisbury several weeks ago, were reduced to eight men with Martin Thomas’ dismissal. County camped in the away half and could and should have added to the scoreline but were profligate with their finishing. Although the home crowd groaned with frustration the game was already won with amble food for discussion from a match which bordered on the farcical.

County now face a testing trip to Bideford Town in the F A Cup with more of the injured squad returning to fitness in good time.

Line Ups:

Newport: Ovendale, Edwards, Searle, Davies, Brough (C), Butler (Cochlin 76), Bowen, Collier (Blake 76), Alsop, Hughes, Evans (O’Sullivan 88) Subs Not Used: Green, ,Giles

Eastleigh: Musselwhite, James, Benali (C), Purser (Oliver 68), Collins, Bound, Dutton (Ashford 76), Forbes, Brown, Hughes, Thomas Subs Not Used: Smith, Douglas, Dodd

Goals:

County: Craig Hughes (7 and 57) and Jason Bowen (21) (penalty)

Eastleigh: Wayne Purser (51)

Dismissals:

Eastleigh: Benali (foul and abusive language), Hughes (foul and abusive language) and Thomas (foul and abusive language)

Cautions:

County: Craig Hughes (foul)

Eastleigh: Brown (foul)

Attendance: 828

Conditions: Dry and sunny, light winds

Officials:

Referee: Andy Williams (Hereford)