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Weston-super-Mare AFC - Match Reports

Match reports - Season 2007 - 2008

Eastleigh 3 v 2 Weston-super-Mare

08/09/2007 -Blue Square South - 1.00pm

Sunny

Weston slipped to their third league defeat in a row down in Hampshire on Saturday and for the second game running the Seagulls conceded a goal in the opening two minutes. With the kick off brought forward to 1pm it meant an early start for the boys and it showed as the Spitfires got off to a flying start.

Weston had not ventured into Eastleigh's half of the pitch before falling behind, as Anthony Riviere saw his header deflected for a corner. When the ball came over it was headed over the bar and from the goal kick Eastleigh won the ball and it was played through to Andy Forbes on the edge of the area, he controlled the ball and stroked it past Ryan Northmore to put the hosts one up.

Things got worse for Weston on 6 minutes when another swift move down the left saw new signing Matt Hann cut inside and his perfect pass found another new signing, Paul Sales with acres of space, he had time to place the ball wide of Northmore to give the Seagulls a mountain to climb.

At this point it seemed that the hosts would take Weston apart, their swift passing movements cut open Weston's defence time and again with Hann and Man of the Match Damien Scannell running riot but gradually Weston clawed their way back into the game and began to show the type of football that they can play.

On 16 minutes their first chance arrived when Dean Grubb and Barry McConnell combined to set up Gareth Hopkins but he turned in the area but shot over the bar. McConnell then went on a mazy 40 yard run, weaving past four defenders before being pushed out wide and the chance was gone.

Two minutes later the Seagulls reduced the arrears when Ashan Holgate made space just inside the box, he neatly turned his marker and looped the ball over the head of keeper James Pullen and into the net.

Weston should have equalised just before the break when a misdirected defensive header fell to Hopkins just 6 yards out, but he failed to bring the ball under control and again the chance went begging and at the other end Northmore had to be alert to keep out a stinging drive from Scannell, grabbing hold of the ball at the second attempt.

The second half began at the same pace with the home side pushing Weston back on the defensive, Sales and Scannell ever dangerous, probing a nervous Seagulls defence. Scannell missed an opportunity to increase Eastleigh's lead when he shot wide whilst at the other end quick thinking by Hopkins after a defensive slip, saw him lob keeper Pullen but unfortunately also lob the crossbar.

Weston then wasted a chance to get back on level terms when Grubb and McConnell made space on the right, McConnell's cross was met at the far post by Matt Hale but he could only direct his header straight at Pullen, but then came Weston's best chance when out of nothing Holgate saw his speculative overhead kick, from a long throw in from Hale, smack the post, and rebound into the arms of a grateful Pullen. But then as so often happens the hosts went straight down the other end and Hann was brought down by McConnell just inside the area and Forbes stepped up to send Northmore the wrong way and virtually end Weston's hopes of getting a share of the spoils.

The Seagulls did claw another goal back with 10 minutes to go when substitute Lewis Powell was brought down just outside the area. Ryan Harley, only on the pitch for 10 minutes after replacing Hale, calmly stepped up to deftly place the free kick over the wall and out of the reach of Pullen. Once again it was too little too late, and after their promising start to the season Weston boss Tony Ricketts must be concerned at this poor run of results. They maybe only losing by the odd goal but three defeats in a row has certainly put a damper on their bright start. Att: 454

Game Statistics

Eastleigh scorers - Forbes (2), & (62pen), Sales (6).
Weston-super-Mare scorers - Holgate (18), Harley (80).
Shots on target -
Shots off target -
Corners -
Offsides -
Freekicks -
Bookings -
Refereee - Carl Brook.

Pullen, Piper, Byles, Riviere, Harris, Marshall, Smith, Forbes, Sales (Green 61), Hann Hughes 77), Scannell. Subs Not Used: Oliver, El Salahi, Shaw.

Team Summary

Player	Played	Goals	Yellow	Red	MOTM	Ratings
Ryan Northmore [Goalkeeper]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 170/295 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ben Willshire [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 139/235 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Barry McConnell [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 163/280 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Billy Clark [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 199/315 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Aaron Wilson [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 127/215 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Andy Robertson [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 5/5 Fans: 166/265 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Craig Loxton [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 3/5 Fans: 137/220 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Matt Hale [Midfield]	Subbed Off					Official: 3/5 Fans: 137/230 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Gareth Hopkins [Forward]	Subbed Off					Official: 3/5 Fans: 184/310 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ashan Holgate [Midfield]	Full Game	1				Official: 4/5 Fans: 147/245 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Dean Grubb [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 3/5 Fans: 128/225 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ryan Harley [Midfield]	Subbed On	1				Official: 3/5 Fans: 156/280 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Lewis Powell [Forward]	Subbed On					Official: 3/5 Fans: 152/250 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Michael Taylor [Defender]	Sub					Official: n/a Fans: 134/225 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5

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