Eastleigh 1-0 Histon

EASTLEIGH V HISTON
SATURDAY 28th OCTOBER 2006

CONFERENCE SOUTH




Eastleigh not only beat the league leaders today, but won their first league game since their 1-0 win over Sutton United back in September. It was also the first time they have ever won against Histon having lost twice against them last season. Andy Forbes continued exactly where he left off last week where he scored a fine hattrick at Weston, with another quality finish that proved to be the winner.

Changes from last weeks side included new goalkeeper James Pullen, formerly of Ipswich Town, who replaced Wayne Shaw between the sticks. Peter Castle and Ian Oliver were both left out with Liam Green starting at left back and Martin Thomas returning to the side having now agreed to stay on at the Silverlake Stadium.

It was Histon who had the first chance of the game in the third minute; with Eastleigh’s new boy James Pullen spring into action. Adrian Cambridge whipped the ball in from a left sided free kick that evaded a number of people in a crowded penalty area and it looked to be creeping into the bottom corner. Pullen, however, reacted superbly pushing the ball wide of goal showing tremendous instincts.

Paul Doswell’s side were soon on the front foot, playing some lovely passing football. Their first attempt saw a patient build up result in an Andy Forbes header being tipped over the bar by Lance Key. Martin Thomas and David Hughes linked up well down the right before Forbes raced in at the back post forcing a smart stop out of the Histon keeper.

Andy Forbes had a chance to give Eastleigh a surprise lead on ten minutes as Hughes’ lofted pass picked out the deadly front man, but on this occasion his volley flew harmlessly wide.

On the rare occasions that the visitors got forward, James Pullen in the Eastleigh goal looked solid with good handling and awareness backed up by Chris Collins and Rob Marshall who were dominant, gave the table toppers very little to cheer about.

After a wild strike from Histon’s Adrian Cambridge, Eastleigh took the game to their opponents once more. Andy Forbes brought the ball down with elegant control before being brought down on the left outside the penalty area. David Hughes tried to find Forbes from the free kick but it was Key that got there first punching the ball out as far as the Eastleigh skipper Andy Harris whose follow up effort was poor.

James Pullen was the hero for Eastleigh for a second time as his double stop denied Histon a 27th minute opener. Histon were allowed time and space to shoot from the edge of the area from which Pullen managed to get a hand to spilling it back but then recovered with a brave save at the feet of the centre forward to deflect the ball wide.

Robbie Nightingale came within inches of breaking the deadlock for the Cambridgeshire side. A soft foul was conceded on the left by Eastleigh and from the dead ball, it was half cleared by Collins and exquisitely struck by the Histon midfielder first time on the volley.

Despite these couple of chances for Histon, the home side were still playing the better football and looked the more likely to score. On the half hour mark, a quick free kick was played to Andy Forbes on the right hand side of goal who managed to flick the ball to the back post for Steve West who couldn’t beat Lance Key with his header.

In the next couple of minutes, the pressure continued to mount on Histon. A handball by Matt Haniver trying to defend against Jamie Brown, led to Andy Forbes having a shot hit Rob Marshall with Liam Green doing his best to get it back in forcing a corner kick. Green’s corner from the right bounced across the box several times in what was a true goalmouth scramble with Histon failing to clear numerously. Steve West managed to head the ball back across, where Danny Smith’s effort fell for ANDY FORBES. The in-form striker smashed the ball home into the roof of the net from close range, as he picked up the pieces finding himself in the right place at the right time.

The goal came ten minutes before the break and was no less than they deserved. On forty-five minutes, Eastleigh worked the ball right from the back and very nearly created an opening. Martin Thomas stylishly won the ball back inside his own penalty area and then chipping it down the line for Steve West who nodded on for Brown. The goalscorer Andy Forbes was in acres of space to the left but the final ball lacked the quality needed.

HALF TIME – Eastleigh 1-0 Histon

Having finished the first half the better side, playing the better football, Eastleigh made a slow start to the second with Histon looking dangerous particularly from their crosses.

It took just four minutes to shake this off though as Andy Forbes could and probably should have doubled his tally for the day latching on to a trademark David Hughes through ball. Forbes slid in with his left foot sending the ball a whisker away from goal.

Mat Mitchell-King was denied a Histon equaliser thanks to Chris Collins heading the ball over the bar on the goal line with Pullen stranded.

On the break, Martin Thomas sent the ball to the back stick for Forbes who promptly created a chance for Danny Smith inside the 18-yard box. The tireless midfielder bundled his way through and although being brought down under a clumsy challenge, a foul was awarded against Smith.

After the hour mark, Histon unsportingly continued play in spite of Danny Smith picking up a nasty knock, as they went looking for an equaliser although in all honesty it never looked like coming.

Chris Collins was as resolute as ever as Histon tried to find a way through the unwavering partnership of himself and Marshall, not to mention the goalkeeper Pullen who didn’t put a foot (or hand) wrong all day.

In the 75th minute, good work from Green and Forbes saw Danny Smith come close with a header at the back post that sailed just wide. The impressive Liam Green, in unfamiliar territory of left back, was growing in confidence as the game wore on creating things going forward and doing his job defensively. His corner resulted in a Jamie Brown header being cleared with Smith leaning back on the follow up smashing high and wide.

Darren Wheeler replaced Steve West for the remaining 12 or so minutes and made an immediate impact with his frightening pace. Andy Harris played it down the park towards the corner flag, and out of nowhere the substitute Wheeler burst onto the scene almost beating Histon keeper Lance Key to the ball, despite being a good 30 yards further away from the ball, forcing a throw in.

Eastleigh threatened again moments later, this time it was Liam Green’s amazing cross from the left surprised everyone going out for a throw in when it was deserving of a lot more.

Andy Forbes should have put the game beyond doubt having been teed up by Harris. From 10 yards out, Forbes’ effort glided just a yard over the bar as Eastleigh demonstrated once more that they were well and truly on top. Before the game came to a close David Hughes went for goal from distance and narrowly missed the top corner as it drifted away at the last moment.

The win for Eastleigh was comfortable and near emphatic. There were solid performances all round, and a lot of positives none more so than the three points. It is just the kick-start that is needed as we look to climb the table to where we belong. Our season starts here!

FULL TIME – Eastleigh 1-0 Histon

JAMIE MONTIGUE

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