Spitfires through to the Final
WINCHESTER CITY 0-1 EASTLEIGH
WEDNESDAY 14th MARCH 2012
Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-Final
Match report by Jamie Montigue
Eastleigh
are through to the Hampshire Senior Cup Final where they will face AFC
Totton following a 1-0 win over Winchester City by a single goal this
evening.
In
a game bereft of clear cut chances for so long, the tie was finally
settled when Chris Flood won a penalty five minutes from time after
rounding the City goalkeeper and being pulled down in the area. JAMIE SLABBER
stepped up confidently to score from the spot and ensure that there
would be no need for extra time by sealing victory inside normal time.
The
win came at a price though as an already depleted Spitfires side
without the services of Jack Dovey, Daryl McMahon, Philip Appiah, Damian
Scannell, Bradley Bubb and Lee Phillips; lost two more players to
injury in tonight's game.
Both
centre backs had to be replaced in the first half. Tom Jordan, who went
to hospital to have a lump to the head checked out after a collision,
and Gary Elphick who turned his ankle and hobbled off the pitch.
This
led to Ian Baird shuffling the pack with Michael Green moving to left
back and Andy Forbes moving into the middle after Jordan came off for
Ian Herring with just 14 minutes played. Later, towards the end of the
first half, Danny Smith reverted to centre half when Eastleigh lost
Elphick to injury (who was replaced by Jordace Holder-Spooner).
The
first real attempt at goal came from a strong run by right back
Mitchell Nelson in the 18th minute whose cross-shot landed on the roof
of the net from a tight angle.
Two
half chances fell Eastleigh's way with both Ian Herring and Michael
Green firing efforts over the bar. Jamie Slabber then reacted to a loose
ball after Smith's shot was turned away, but Slabber stretching for the
ball couldn't steer his shot towards the target.
In
the closing stages of the first half, former Eastleigh midfielder Chris
Mason squandered a good chance to open the scoring from close range for
the hosts.
After
Holder-Spooner won a corner for Eastleigh on the stroke of half time,
City cleared their lines and broke into a counter attack. The ball came
to Jamie White (another ex-Spitfire), who took on an early shot from a
long way out that had to be saved down low by an otherwise untroubled
Gareth Barfoot.
HALF TIME: Winchester City 0-0 Eastleigh
A minute after the break Andy Forbes nodded a Chris Flood free kick delivery just wide of the up right.
Adam Roberts worked space for a shot three minutes shy of the hour only to shoot tamely straight at Barfoot.
Eastleigh's
next best chance came when Jamie Brown's cross found it's way to Jamie
Slabber, who brought the ball down well with his back to goal. Slabber's
turn and effort on the spin wasn't too far away but failed to trouble
the goal keeper.
Chris
Flood pulled up with an injury and had to be treated by the physio but
was fine to see out the remainder of the game. Jordace Holder-Spooner
meanwhile, on his come back from injury was replaced by Ben Wilson ten
minutes from time.
Winchester's
prolific forward Jamie White had a couple of sightings of goal, the
first when he ran at the Eastleigh defence only to be blocked off at the
crucial moment. White was then denied as Barfoot kept out the striker's
snap shot.
The game sprung to life in the 85th minute when Flood won a penalty for the Spitfires. JAMIE SLABBER stepped up to find the back of the net from 12-yards and send Eastleigh into a 1-0 lead.
The
closing moments of the game ticked away without incident as Slabber's
penalty proved to be the difference to send Ian Baird's side into the
Hampshire Cup final - much to the delight of the Eastleigh support who
were in fine voice through out the game.
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