Poate and Slabber on target in Bashley win

BASHLEY v EASTLEIGH
TUESDAY 27th JULY 2010

Pre-Season Friendly

Report by Jamie Montigue

After a week away in Devon in the Joma South West Challenge Cup, Eastleigh returned to pre-season action tonight with a 2-0 victory at Bashley.

BRETT POATE handed Ian Baird's side an early lead with a stunning 5th minute free kick, which flew in off the upright and left the Bashley goalkeeper motionless.

Summer signing Richard Graham looked in good form showing excellent ball control, first touch and vision on several occasions throughout the half to play the role of playmaker and create opportunities for the Spitfires.

In the 19th minute, a looping through ball from right back Warren Goodhind saw Jamie Slabber get into a good position early to pick up on the pass to the right of goal, where the former Havant man lofted a neat effort over the goalkeeper which dipped agonisingly over the cross bar.

At the opposite end, Bashley forced their first corner of the game with ex-Eastleigh winger Adam Roberts playing the ball off of Brett Poate. Gareth Barfoot in the Eastleigh goal looked assured all night between the sticks and dealt with the danger calmly by punching the ball away amid a crowd of players in the penalty area.

Eastleigh continued to threaten however, and on the half hour Graham's cross from the left flank had to be tipped behind for a corner kick with ex-Bashley goal machine Richard Gillespie lurking.

From the resulting set piece Ross Bottomley first had a shot blocked before being presented with a second chance to strike at goal; though his tame effort with his weaker left foot was cleared off the line by Tom Hill.

A minute later, Eastleigh deservedly doubled their lead through a very well taken JAMIE SLABBER finish. The target man took full advantage of a short back pass intended for the Bashley goalkeeper, by getting to the ball first to poke beyond Elm, low into the far corner with the outside of his left boot.

There was time for one last chance of the half with Gillespie working the channel well to pull the ball back to the edge of the box, only for Graham to scoop harmlessly over the bar.

Eastleigh looked solid as a unit putting in a professional and productive first half display.

HALF TIME: Bashley 0-2 Eastleigh

Chris Mason came on for Gillespie at the start of the second half, which allowed Staforde Palmer to push into his favoured position of striker; having not looked out of place in a wide right of midfield role for the whole of the first forty-five.

Immediately Eastleigh looked to start off on the front foot with Richard Graham showing a touch of class to chip the ball over his marker, perfectly into the path of Palmer who had an early sight at goal but saw his shot blocked off. Ross Bottomley nodded over the bar moments later from a Graham cross.

Bashley then had a couple of half chances, first, Dominic Allen brought the ball down inside the Eastleigh penalty area in the 55th minute, but could only manage to fire a shot straight into the safe hands of Barfoot.

Three minutes later a Chris Ferrett free kick saw Gareth Barfoot well-positioned to get behind the ball and make another good stop.

Just past the hour mark, Eastleigh worked a neat opening with Danny Smith finding Slabber who in turn showed good feet and hold up play inside the penalty area before playing the ball back to Palmer. 18 yards from goal, the former Hayes & Yeading striker blazed high over the cross bar, failing to keep his shot down on this occasion.

The closest Bashley came to troubling Barfoot came when 'Taz' Roberts broke free in the Eastleigh penalty area to the right of goal. The tricky winger saw his cross-shot deflected and heading for the bottom corner which looked to have wrong-footed the goalkeeper, only for Barfoot to show top reactions and instinct to dive low to his left and keep the ball out.

There were run outs towards the end of the game for youngsters Joe Collins and Alex Easton for the visitors. The last of the action saw Collins bend a free kick around the wall but narrowly wide of the post.

FULL TIME: Bashley 0-2 Eastleigh

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