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ATTEMPTS ON TARGET
ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET
BLOCKED SHOTS
CORNERS
FREE KICKS
YELLOW CARDS
RED CARDS
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Jimmy Elford
Russell Eldridge
Mark Green
Peter Mortley
(Y) Ryan Peters
(Y) (Sub 2) Steve Sands
Steve Ringwood
(Sub 1) Mitchell Sherwood
(Y) Carl Rook
Chris Honey
Charlie Belcher
David Henham
Kieren Startup
(Sub 2) Simon Stickney
(Sub 1) Peter Taylor
Phil Warner
Christer Warren
Steve Richardson (1)
Danny Rofe (Y)
Rob Marshall
Danny Woods (Sub 3)
David Hughes
Rob Matthews (Sub 1)
Tyronne Bowers (Sub 2)
Martin Beck
Paul Sales (Sub 1)
Rob Chamberlain (Sub 3)
James Stokoe (Sub 2)
Sam Wyeth
Lee Bright
Eastleigh 1 (Richardson 22 Min)
Attendance 329
Yet again this season the figure of egg-head defender-midfielder Steve Richardson was a pain in the back side as he thwarted United from grabbing points, he did it for Newport when they won 2-0 back in October at the Pilot Field. Richardson�s all round performance wasn�t something to rave about, but his presence whenever there was scuffles, there was Richardson causing the problems, nobody knows how the hell he stayed on the pitch, but it was his header in the first half from a silly free kick that gave the Hampshire side the joy of grabbing a �double� over us.
United started with the same side that beat Stamford the week before last, except the change of Carl Rook returning upfront for Mark Goodwin. But it was United from the off, well not really Eastleigh showed some early pressure but it was Russell Eldridge�s powerful shot that just went past Colin Matthew�s far post that registered the first shot of the match. But Eastleigh got their turn, dangerous play-maker David Hughes saw his strong shot just go over Chris May�s crossbar, but Hughes forced young keeper May into a superb save a minute later from a free kick destined for the top corner some-how May rose and palmed to safety.
Eastleigh also had a penalty appeal turned down when Tyronne Bowers went down when he collided with Peter Mortley, the referee instantly told Bowers to get up. But a minute after that the linesman gave a free kick, Eastleigh took it, but the referee asked for it to be put back, and so they did, but when the ball came across goal Steve Richardson lost his maker and headed into the far corner beyond Chris May�s reach.
United forced themselves back into the match, Steve Ringwood�s shot went wide of goal, and then Steve Sands cross went straight through the penalty area and was cleared by the Eastleigh defence, Ringers also registered the first shot on target for United when his shot from a corner was well saved by Matthews. But Ryan Peters saw his poor free-kick go miles wide of goal.
Eastleigh did counter attack well, Rob Matthews was holding the ball up well, and when he did Martin Beck had loads of time in the world but his shot went miles wide of May�s goal. Danny Woods shot was also wide and over the bar, but it took Chris May�s awareness to thwart Eastleigh, he was called off his line and beat Rob Matthews to the ball with ease, and cleared the ball to safety.
But it went into handbags mode at the end when Carl Rook turned Danny Rofe, Rofe held onto Rook, who was being impeded and stopped from getting away from Rofe, and so Rook tried to shrug him off, but Rofe held on, and it ended up as Rofe flinging his hand at Carl Rook�s face, the ref separated the players, and booked Carl Rook but only a yellow for Rofe, if played by the rules it would�ve been a red card.
At the start of the second half a warning notice for the defence as league top scorer Paul Sales was introduced at Rob Matthews expense. But it was United to get back into the game, Ryan Peters shot went wide of goal and so did Steve Sands� attempt, then Eastleigh had the ball in the net, a corner came in, Danny Rofe impeded Chris May so much when May got to the ball, Rofe pushed May over, the ball went in but the ref was on hand to award United a deserved free-kick.
Danny Woods got his shot on goal but Chris May was on hand to save. It was getting late on in the game and United pushed for an equaliser that would�ve been deserved, Chris Honey had his header go straight into Matthew�s mitt�s, but that was to be one of the best chances for United. Peter Taylor also saw his deflected shot go to Matthews.
Despite United pushing for an equaliser, Eastleigh did have chances to put the game beyond doubt, Phil Warners weak shot went wide, James Stokoe broke free but his poor touch on the ball meant Chris May collected with ease. Then May was forced to save again, a goalmouth scramble, the ball went to Richardson who hammered the ball in, somehow May got to the ball and palmed away to Jimmy Elford.
Richardson had one of the best chances to finish the game in the final minutes, the corner came in and Richardson rose above the rest and his header was a whisker away from hitting the crossbar. United fans went home overall unhappy, while Eastleigh went back to Hampshire quite happy, in what could�ve be a tricky fixture.
Overall United�s performance was quite a way below average, Steve Ringwood had a nightmare, Ringers and Ryan Peters both didn�t have good games, them two as centre midfielders aren�t the right pairing, they seem to both follow the ball, instead of spreading the play, not being close together, that�s why again we lost the midfield battle, the defence again was good, the keeper Chris May is turning out to be one of the signings of the season. Both Chris Honey and Carl Rook worked hard, but no support from the midfield prevented United from scoring.
Although it took 968 words to write this report one word can sum it up �average�
Claret�n�Blue Man Of The Match
Jimmy Elford
He was the best man with a United shirt on today, not a very good performance from the lads, not many that stood out, except Jimmy, he didn�t panic and was a good captain, in what was a physical game.