Valuable Point on Travels

30th December 2006 - Eastbourne Borough 0-0 Eastleigh
Report by Ray Murphy

In horrendous conditions with a blustery wind and torrential downpours at times, Eastleigh returned from Eastbourne with a fully deserved point, arguably unlucky not to have collected a full three point haul.

Jason Dodd had to tweak his starting line up owing to suspensions for Steve West and Martin Thomas, though he kept faith with the side that had finished the game at Basingstoke with Chris Collins returning to his central defensive role for his first appearance for a month.

Early indications with Eastleigh defending the wind in the first half saw the pitch basically lifeless, although the ball rolled there was no additional bounce for the ball. It was Eastleigh who opened the attacking ideas. A good move in the sixth minute involving Steve Forbes and birthday boy David Hughes set up Andy Forbes but home goalkeeper Lee Hook saved his effort.

One of several downpours of rain saw the game settle into a midfield rally for a while, with news filtering in of games being abandoned all around, thoughts that this match would fall the same way came to mind. The players on both sides played their part in keeping the game going in difficult conditions. All too often lofted clearances would be brought back to the player on the heights of the winds.

Eastleigh’s second birthday boy of the afternoon, Frances Benali received a caution for a tackle that brought some animation from the benches, but Benali showed his professionalism by his play in such conditions.

A rising drive from distance midway through the half from Ben Austin never troubled James Pullen but was the home sides best opening offer. On twenty-seven minutes the home side had what happened to be their best chance of the afternoon. Jay Lovett latched on to a left wing cross from former Eastleigh player Adam Wilde, in front of Benali, but Pullen pulled off an excellent stop to deny the midfielder an opening goal.

As Eastleigh switched play to the opposite end, Darren Wheeler provided a fine left wing run and his final cross saw Marc Pullan just beat Steve Forbes to the ball and clear for a corner. Ten minutes before half time Eastbourne captain Paul Armstrong collected a defence splitting pass from Matt Smart but again James Pullen was alert to keep his clean sheet. The final chance of the opening half fell to Andy Forbes but he scuffed his shot when well placed.

The second half was played entirely in Eastbourne’s half. James Pullen although involved in the action a couple of times never had a save to make. Despite their domination of the forty-five minutes though, Eastleigh could not find a way past Eastbourne goalkeeper Lee Hook. On the hour a turn and shot from Carl Wilson-Denis was off target and probably their best chance of the afternoon arrived on sixty-four minutes when Andy Forbes’ cross was met by the head of the unmarked Danny Smith in the area but his effort was off target also.

Andy Forbes’ pass inside the right full back on seventy four minutes allowed Wheeler a free run on goal but he shot tamely at Hook, whilst Hughes’ long range effort was also wide of Hooks goal.

The introduction of Liam George to the Eastleigh front line brought more concern for the home side, but his cross cum shot on eighty minutes was saved by Hook, then making the most of a wind assisted clearance that fell nicely for him, George controlled the ball on his chest before turning but firing a shot wide of the target.