Wealdstone 1- 4 Eastleigh

Wealdstone

1 - 4

Eastleigh

KO: 0:00 | Sat 1st Jan ’05

Too much New Year cheer? or just too many key players missing. Either way, a strong but not outstanding performance from Eastleigh and some poor defending from Wealdstone was enough to give the visitors the points at a blustery and wet White Lion Ground, although the score line may slightly flatter the visitors.

Stones started well enough forcing an early save from Webber, but they failed to defend a free kick on the fourth minute, Forbes getting in front of his marker in the six yard box to squeeze the ball between Burrell and the post – one Stones should have kept out.

The second again saw Forber get in front to claim a free header in the centre of the box, when Goldman ‘borrowed’ from Maidenhead should possibly have cut out the cross, so two down after 16 minutes and both should have been prevented.

Stones rallied for a while and Beckford saw a shot cleared after he had rounded the keeper, Jolly and McKeown also going close with efforts, but Forbes completed his hattrick on 25 minutes to virtually finish the game.

Stones then had their best period of the half, Beckford again seeing an effort cleared off the line, Williams seeing a shot punched away and Jolly hitting the bar as Stones competed on even terms with the visitors as they had for most of the half, yet they remained three behind, and on 40 minutes it became four when another error let in Sales. Still though, Stones continued to battle as they tried in vain to get on the score sheet before half time.

The second half saw Eastleigh sit back a little as Stones took the game to them – they used every tool in the box to slow the game down and break up any pattern of play (while not pretty it was pretty effective!) and although dominating the half, Stones only consolation was a penalty scored by Jolly on 82 minutes.

There is no doubt that Eastleigh are a good effective unit who play to their strengths and they will be in the shake-up at the end of the season, but even missing Andy Carter, Dave Ryan, Matt Carvell, Brian Jones, Martin Carter, Nobby Michnowicz and Alvin Bubb from the 16, there should have been enough ability there to at least secure a point…

Harrow Times

Wealdstone 1 – 4 Eastleigh 

By Steve Paull

WITH keeper Andy Carter unavailable and centre-half Dave Ryan suspended, Wealdstone’s defensive frailties were exposed by a slick Eastleigh side in an exhibition of clinical finishing where the Hampshire side scored four times in the first-half.

Andy Forbes’ 25 minute hat-trick began after four minutes with an unmarked near post header that squeezed between Gary Burrell and the front post.

This set the tone for the remainder of the half, as Eastleigh scored with every purposeful attack. Another unchallenged header, this time at the far post, gave Forbes his second ten minutes later.

Following this, an effort from Sales hit a post only for Forbes to react first, scoring his hat-trick with a simple tap in.

But this was not a one-sided game. Eastleigh keeper Webber thwarted Jermaine’s Beckford’s attempt to round him, Robin Tucker’s header smacked against the bar and how Richard Jolly’s close-range header did not find the net remains a mystery.

Sales hammered the final nail into Wealdstone’s coffin on the stroke of half time, latching onto a chipped ball into the box before debutant keeper Andrew Goldman, to head into an unguarded goal.

After a remarkable first half the second was bound to suffer in comparison. Both sides played out the 45 minutes in a less intense fashion, accepting that only a miracle could change the result. Chances were at a premium.

Jolly reduced the arrears late on, dispatching a penalty after Lee O’Leary had his shirt tugged.