Vanarama Conference National Round 32
Southport F.C vs Eastleigh
Match Preview
20th placed Southport will host Eastleigh in their bid to beat the drop as they sit in 20th place, only 4 points infront of Dartford who lie in 21st. Southport won their last league game 1-0 against Alfreton and will be hoping that it is a sign of more things to come. Eastleigh on the other hand are coming off the back of a 2-1 FA Trophy 4th round win which sees them into the competition's semi-finals.
Starting lineup
The only change of significance for this league match is loanee Gooch starting at the top of the midfield diamond. In-form striker duo Midson and Constable will be hoping to keep their goal-frenzy going as they both near the 20 goal milestone for the campaign.
Match report
Vanarama Conference National Round 33
Eastleigh vs Torquay United
Match Preview
FA Trophy semi-finalists Eastleigh have been touted as comfortable favorites, but will have to be wary about complacency when taking on Torquay.
With not long to go until the end of the season, Eastleigh are currently lying in 9th place in the league on 45 points after 32 matches. Eastleigh can move up to 8th and will be hoping to leapfrog Dover in the process.
Torquay have been disappointing in the league this season and find themselves below expectation in 12th place. Torquay have only managed to win one of their last five away league games.
Starting lineup
Manager Nicholas Laurent told the media in the pre-match conference that there will be changes to his side as he looks to rotate as they play Wrexham twice in the next 7 days. One of those encounters being the FA Trophy semi-final. Gooch is out in place for Howard whilst goalkeeper Lennox is rested as Cropper returns to the lineup.
Match Report
Competition update
It was time for Laurent to sit down with his assistant and look at where the team was and the upcoming fixtures.
McAllister left the office leaving Laurent with a lot to think about. What team should he play? They had a massive fixture pileup and were running on almost empty to begin with. Looks like a long-night was in-store for Laurent.
Southport F.C vs Eastleigh
Match Preview
20th placed Southport will host Eastleigh in their bid to beat the drop as they sit in 20th place, only 4 points infront of Dartford who lie in 21st. Southport won their last league game 1-0 against Alfreton and will be hoping that it is a sign of more things to come. Eastleigh on the other hand are coming off the back of a 2-1 FA Trophy 4th round win which sees them into the competition's semi-finals.
Starting lineup
The only change of significance for this league match is loanee Gooch starting at the top of the midfield diamond. In-form striker duo Midson and Constable will be hoping to keep their goal-frenzy going as they both near the 20 goal milestone for the campaign.
Match report
First half
In the 11th minute Jones' first time effort from 20 yards sailed in to the top-left corner to give Eastleigh the lead. Jones will be telling his grand-children about that sweet strike!
Half time
Southport 0 vs 1 Eastleigh
Jones(11)
Laurent told the lads they had played well but not to get complacent before sending them back out.
Second Half
Nothing of significance occurred.
Post game
Laurent was pleased with the teams' professional performance and made sure the lads knew that. There wasn't nothing to fault on that game besides the fact that they could of maybe had a few more.
Full time
Southport 0 vs 1 Eastleigh
Jones(11)
POTM
Jones with a rating of 8.3 and a thunderbolt of a goal.
In the 11th minute Jones' first time effort from 20 yards sailed in to the top-left corner to give Eastleigh the lead. Jones will be telling his grand-children about that sweet strike!
Half time
Southport 0 vs 1 Eastleigh
Jones(11)
Laurent told the lads they had played well but not to get complacent before sending them back out.
Second Half
Nothing of significance occurred.
Post game
Laurent was pleased with the teams' professional performance and made sure the lads knew that. There wasn't nothing to fault on that game besides the fact that they could of maybe had a few more.
Full time
Southport 0 vs 1 Eastleigh
Jones(11)
POTM
Jones with a rating of 8.3 and a thunderbolt of a goal.
Vanarama Conference National Round 33
Eastleigh vs Torquay United
Match Preview
FA Trophy semi-finalists Eastleigh have been touted as comfortable favorites, but will have to be wary about complacency when taking on Torquay.
With not long to go until the end of the season, Eastleigh are currently lying in 9th place in the league on 45 points after 32 matches. Eastleigh can move up to 8th and will be hoping to leapfrog Dover in the process.
Torquay have been disappointing in the league this season and find themselves below expectation in 12th place. Torquay have only managed to win one of their last five away league games.
Starting lineup
Manager Nicholas Laurent told the media in the pre-match conference that there will be changes to his side as he looks to rotate as they play Wrexham twice in the next 7 days. One of those encounters being the FA Trophy semi-final. Gooch is out in place for Howard whilst goalkeeper Lennox is rested as Cropper returns to the lineup.
Match Report
First half
In the 17th minute, Constable managed to get onto the end of a good cross in by Richards to head home for his 19th of the season, one away from the 20 goal milestone.
10 minutes later Richards was involved again after he saw his marauding run halted when he was illegally brought down in the box by Thomas Cruise. Veteran Brian Howard would step up to the spot before getting extremely lucky. Howard drilled the ball right at Rice, however the ball would burst through his hands giving the hosts a 2 goal cushion. Any goal is a good goal.
However in the 36th minute, Eastleigh could do nothing when Courtney Richards unleashed an absolute screamed from 30 yards to see it fly into the top right corner.
Half time
Eastleigh 2 vs 1 Torquay
Constable(17), Howard(27), C.Richards(36)
Although they conceded, Laurent wasn't too concerned.
"We are by far the better team. Just kick on in the second half and we will get the three points. Richards you have been ****** magnificent. Keep the effort up!"
The team agreed with Laurent's comments and a few back-slaps came the way of the young-right back who was sent back out in high-spirits.
Second Half
However the hosts hard-work would be all-undone in the 57th minute when they failed to clear their lines which saw Benyon tap home from close range.
Richards might just have earned himself a permanent deal to Eastleigh after his game only got better. Richards picked the ball up on the half way line to spot Partington making a run in behind the defence. Richards played the ball over the top which would see Partington cut it back across goal for Midson to tap home. Midson celebrated his 18th goal of the season, but both team-mates ran over to Richards to show their appreciation in the build up.
However what would happen next would send Laurent into a frenzy. Benyon had to have his leg amputated after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the box when he was viciously brought down by Malaga. Benyon then magically recovered from his wounds when the penalty had been awarded in the 92nd minute with only 70 seconds left on the clock. Laurent then launched a rant at the 4th official when Benyon would step-up to take the penalty, resulting in Laurent being sent to the stands.
Staring down the barrel with over 1100 Eastleigh supporters chanting "Benyon, you're a c$%t" Benyon began his run in. Benyon shot to the left only to see it saved by Cropper. Laurent almost stripped naked as he started to perform laps of the stand once the full-time whistle had been blown to give his side the deserved victory.
Post game
"Good win boys, let's forget about those events at the end and move on. Richards, ****** good game and Cropper, I knew I could count on you when it mattered. Brilliant save."
The team were sending high-fives all round giving them a massive boost of confidence going into their next game.
Full time
Eastleigh 3 vs 2 Torquay
Constable(17), Howard(27), C.Richards(36), Benyon(57), Midson(78)
POTM
Richards with a rating of 8.3 and getting two assists. Really we will count Midson's as his 'third' leaving him with a hat-trick from right-back.
In the 17th minute, Constable managed to get onto the end of a good cross in by Richards to head home for his 19th of the season, one away from the 20 goal milestone.
10 minutes later Richards was involved again after he saw his marauding run halted when he was illegally brought down in the box by Thomas Cruise. Veteran Brian Howard would step up to the spot before getting extremely lucky. Howard drilled the ball right at Rice, however the ball would burst through his hands giving the hosts a 2 goal cushion. Any goal is a good goal.
However in the 36th minute, Eastleigh could do nothing when Courtney Richards unleashed an absolute screamed from 30 yards to see it fly into the top right corner.
Half time
Eastleigh 2 vs 1 Torquay
Constable(17), Howard(27), C.Richards(36)
Although they conceded, Laurent wasn't too concerned.
"We are by far the better team. Just kick on in the second half and we will get the three points. Richards you have been ****** magnificent. Keep the effort up!"
The team agreed with Laurent's comments and a few back-slaps came the way of the young-right back who was sent back out in high-spirits.
Second Half
However the hosts hard-work would be all-undone in the 57th minute when they failed to clear their lines which saw Benyon tap home from close range.
Richards might just have earned himself a permanent deal to Eastleigh after his game only got better. Richards picked the ball up on the half way line to spot Partington making a run in behind the defence. Richards played the ball over the top which would see Partington cut it back across goal for Midson to tap home. Midson celebrated his 18th goal of the season, but both team-mates ran over to Richards to show their appreciation in the build up.
However what would happen next would send Laurent into a frenzy. Benyon had to have his leg amputated after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the box when he was viciously brought down by Malaga. Benyon then magically recovered from his wounds when the penalty had been awarded in the 92nd minute with only 70 seconds left on the clock. Laurent then launched a rant at the 4th official when Benyon would step-up to take the penalty, resulting in Laurent being sent to the stands.
Staring down the barrel with over 1100 Eastleigh supporters chanting "Benyon, you're a c$%t" Benyon began his run in. Benyon shot to the left only to see it saved by Cropper. Laurent almost stripped naked as he started to perform laps of the stand once the full-time whistle had been blown to give his side the deserved victory.
Post game
"Good win boys, let's forget about those events at the end and move on. Richards, ****** good game and Cropper, I knew I could count on you when it mattered. Brilliant save."
The team were sending high-fives all round giving them a massive boost of confidence going into their next game.
Full time
Eastleigh 3 vs 2 Torquay
Constable(17), Howard(27), C.Richards(36), Benyon(57), Midson(78)
POTM
Richards with a rating of 8.3 and getting two assists. Really we will count Midson's as his 'third' leaving him with a hat-trick from right-back.
Competition update
It was time for Laurent to sit down with his assistant and look at where the team was and the upcoming fixtures.
McAllister left the office leaving Laurent with a lot to think about. What team should he play? They had a massive fixture pileup and were running on almost empty to begin with. Looks like a long-night was in-store for Laurent.
