Replay with the Wombles

In the FA Trophy this afternoon, Eastleigh lost Jamie Brown a minute before the break for a straight red (although, Brown had already been shown a yellow card earlier in the game). Just a minute later and on the stroke of half time, Darren Wheeler netted the opener. AFC Wimbledon, playing in front of fantastic support with over 1,000 in attendance, forced a replay with nineteen minutes remaining - striker Roscoe D'Sane the scorer.

Eastleigh will now host AFC Wimbledon this Tuesday at the Silverlake Stadium, 7:45pm kick off.

25th November 2006 - AFC Wimbledon 1 Eastleigh 1
Report by Ray Murphy




This incident packed F A Challenge Trophy Third Qualifying Round replay fixture, concluded with the requirement of a replay at Eastleigh on Tuesday evening.

Manager Paul Doswell must have been much happier with the performance of his team against Ryman League Premier Division AFC Wimbledon. For the home side it was already their third game in the competition this season whilst Eastleigh were exempt until this stage. Eastleigh must beware though, ‘The Wombles’ have only lost twice on their travels so far this season and one of those being at Exeter City in an F A Cup Fourth Qualifying Round match.

The home side were boosted by defender Simon Sweeney along with midfielders Jermaine Darlington and Lee Kersey all passing late fitness tests. Eastleigh were depleted with skipper Any Harris still sidelined along with influential midfielder David Hughes missing with a virus.

In front of a vociferous 1346 crowd it was Eastleigh who had the better of the opening half. After five minutes Andy Forbes controlled a free kick from Francis Benali, turned on the ball before sending a rising drive just over the bar. The same combination worked again five minutes later but this time Wimbledon goalkeeper Andy Little had to make a save from the Eastleigh striker.

With fourteen minutes played, Wimbledon were rocked when defender Steve Watson had to be stretchered off the field following a clash with Danny Smith. Smith was okay to resume after treatment. A minute later, the Wimbledon fans held their breath as a curling free kick from Darren Wheeler hit the side netting and a minute later Forbes and Jamie Brown exchanged passes, Brown was dispossessed whilst lining up his shot but the ball broke loose for Smith but again Little was equal to the attempt.

Robbie Marshall had a header from a Wheeler corner saved by Little on twenty six minutes but three minutes later Eastleigh had their first scare of the afternoon when The Wombles leading scorer Roscoe D’Sane had a shot saved by Jamie Pullen.

Eastleigh were definitely the better side in the first half, five minutes before the interval another attack from the home side saw the tricky Darlington play a clever ball into the path of Wes Daly but he shot wide of the target. On forty-three minutes it looked as though the afternoon would turn against Eastleigh. Having previously been booked, the ever-running Brown became the victim of a straight red card by referee Robert Whitton for alleged serious foul play in jumping at an opponent.

The despair for Eastleigh was lifted a little two minutes later as the interval whistle was being waited for as Wheeler’s low shot across the face of Little nestled in the back of the net via the inside of the far post to give Eastleigh a well deserved lead. In the six minutes of first half stoppage time Chris Collins saw a header pushed away by Little and at the other end of the pitch Daly again wasted a good shooting opportunity from the edge of the box.

There were fewer chances in the second period, the home side tried to break through the Eastleigh defence starting from deep. Seven minutes into the second period a long ball from Michael Haswell was flicked on by Steve Butler but D’Sane only managed to fire wide of the target. On sixty-four minutes Forbes broke clear for Eastleigh after being set up by Smith but Little was out to smother at the striker’s feet. Three minutes later and a fierce drive from Steve Wales brought an excellent stop from Pullen.

Seventy-one minutes had been played when the home side scored their equaliser. A quick break down the right hand side saw a firm low drive across the face of the six yard box by Sweeney just failed to be collected by Pullen and D’Sane had the simplest of chances of turning home the equaliser. For Wimbledon substitute Robin Shroot it was to be his last action of the afternoon, the referee awarding the midfielder a second yellow card for his over exuberations in celebrating the goal and so even the numbers of both sides again.

Four minutes following the goal Wimbledon substitute Darren Grieves collected a pass from Daly in the box but his shot on the turn was saved by Pullen.

There was little goalmouth action to follow, the referee only allowing one minutes worth of stoppage time after the final whistle as both sides considered the Tuesday night replay.

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