Spitfires see off Cinderford

EASTLEIGH 3-1 CINDERFORD TOWN

SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER 2011

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

Match report by Jamie Montigue

EASTLEIGH: Gareth Barfoot, Billy Tsolovos, Andy Forbes, Jamie Brown, Tom Jordan (c), Ross Bottomley, Jordace Holder-Spooner (Ryan O'Hara 73), Danny Smith, Jamie Slabber, Richard Gillespie (Ian Herring 77), Graeme Montgomery (Andrew White 68). Subs (Not used): Andrew Smallpiece (GK), Sam Wilson, Ben Wilson.

Goals: Eastleigh - Tom Jordan 25, Andy Forbes 33, Andrew White 80. Cinderford Town - Nick McCootie 85.

Eastleigh are safely through into the next round of the FA Cup having seen off Evostik Division One South and West side Cinderford Town.

The Spitfires were without loanee Henrik Breimyr this afternoon, who was made unavailable to play in this competition by his parent club Aldershot Town. Billy Tsovolos came into the starting eleven as the only change to Ian Baird's side who beat Staines Town 2-1 last weekend.

It was like a summer’s day at the Silverlake Stadium with bright sunshine despite entering the month of October.

Eastleigh threatened early on with Graeme Montgomery seeing one of his crosses from the left being punched clear by the goalkeeper, before Tom Jordan headed wide of the target in the 8^th minute from a corner.

It was Cinderford Town though who came closest to an early goal as towering striker Lewis Sommers’ header rattled the Eastleigh cross bar and came back out before being cleared to safety.

Eastleigh responded well with Richard Gillespie seeing a snapshot deflected for a corner in the 13^th minute. Next the Spitfires saw a left foot half volley from Andy Forbes drop just the wrong side of the post with a good effort from the edge of the area.

With a quarter of an hour played, Mike Whittington had a chance to open the scoring following a neat ball over the top of the defence by Sommers. Whittington found himself in space to the left of goal and let the ball bounce before striking a wayward attempt that flew high and wide.

Still inside the opening twenty minutes, Eastleigh were awarded an indirect free kick two yards inside the Cinderford penalty area as goalkeeper Ben John was penalised for holding on to the ball for too long. Jordace Holder-Spooner teed up Montgomery, who drove the ball low into a crowd of defenders. The ball then fell for Holder-Spooner who hit a fierce strike that flew narrowly over the cross bar.

In the 23^rd minute, Cinderford’s Dan Harrison wasn't too far away from goal with an effort from a corner kick, before Eastleigh took the lead two minutes later.

TOM JORDAN broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a low, left foot finish from close range from a corner kick for the captain’s first goal of the season.

Eastleigh then came close from a free kick which Graeme Montgomery struck well from 25-yards and flew inches wide of the upright.

There was an unsavoury incident midway through the half following a clash between Jamie Brown and Dale Evans that saw both players receive yellow cards after a bad tackle and retaliation.

Eastleigh let the football do the talking by doubling their advantage in the 33rd minute from another set piece as ANDY FORBES rose high to meet Graeme Montgomery's corner and power the ball into the net with a strong header.

The visitors were then awarded a penalty two minutes later following a trip by Jordan. Mike Whittington had the chance to halve the deficit but Gareth Barfoot made an excellent save diving to his left to keep out the spot kick. Barfoot then made an equally impressive save to stop the follow up, showing quick reactions to keep the home side 2-0 ahead.

Seven minutes before the break, Eastleigh thought they had increased their lead to three goals as Jamie Slabber got the final touch from an Andy Forbes shot but the goal was ruled out for offside.

On the stroke of half time Barfoot was on hand to make a comfortable catch from a Sommers header but it was Eastleigh who held a controlled two goal lead at the half way stage courtesy of goals from Tom Jordan and Andy Forbes.

HALF TIME: Eastleigh 2-0 Cinderford Town

In the second half the game didn't flow so much and it wasn't until the 80th minute before the next goal came.

Jamie Slabber blazed over the bar in the 47^th minute from Andy Forbes' headed knock down, whilst at the opposite end - Cinderford forced Barfoot into an early second half save. Andy Lewis’s diving header was on target from Dale Evans’ free kick but Gareth Barfoot was well positioned.

After a stop start opening to the second half, Richard Gillespie shot from a tight angle on the right hand side to drill a shot across the face of goal in the 58^th minute.

On the hour, Craig Tait found space down the right flank and had to be thwarted by alert goalkeeping from Barfoot, who was quick off his line to make a well-timed challenge to bring the attack to an end.

Four minutes later, Mike Whittington had a good chance to pull a goal back with a shot from 10 yards only to fire straight into the gloves of Barfoot.

Fifteen minutes from time, another chance went begging for Cinderford as Whittington dragged a shot wide when well placed.

ANDREW WHITE came off the bench to effectively seal the tie by scoring Eastleigh's third goal of the game ten minutes from time. Ian Herring made an incisive through ball to split the Cinderford defence and find White in space. White had peeled off his marker well with a good run and bore down on goal only to see his first effort kept out by Ben John. The young forward made no mistake as the ball came back out to him, as he found the back of the net for 3-0.

Cinderford Town pulled a goal back five minutes from time through NICK McCOOTIE, but it was to be no more than a consolation for the visitors, who saw their captain Dale Evans sent off in the 86^th minute.

It was a good win for Eastleigh to see the Spitfires into the 3^rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

Sponsors man of the match - Richard Gillespie.

FULL TIME: Eastleigh 3-1 Cinderford Town

Cinderford - 011011