Town run ends with defeat at Eastleigh

5:31pm Thursday 1st January 2009

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BASINGSTOKE Town’s eight game unbeaten run came to an end at the Silverlake Stadium on New Year’s Day, Eastleigh avenging their defeat at the Camrose six days earlier with a 1-0 win.

Former Basingstoke player Andy Forbes scored what proved to be the winner just before the break and while Town pressed in the closing stages, they were unable to find an equaliser.

“The run was always going to end at some time,” manager Frank Gray said after the game. “We did well to go eight games without losing but we have got to forget about that now.”

The game began slowly but high-flying Eastleigh got on top as the first half progressed. Jamie Brown had two chances from crosses, making Town ’keeper Ross Kitteridge scramble with the first and then failing to find the target with a fine chance at the far post.

Peter Adeniyi then had a decent shot from distance for the hosts, while Tom Williamson had Basingstoke’s best effort of the half, his shot from outside the area slipping through Jason Matthews’ fingers. However, the Eastleigh ’keeper was able to recover, diving gratefully on the loose ball before it crossed the line.

Despite this, a home goal was always on the cards and it duly arrived a minute before half-time, Forbes heading Tony Taggart’s left wing cross in at the far post.

Eastleigh continued to look dangerous from crosses after the break. Brown and Forbes failed to make the most of reasonable chances before Kitteridge flapped at a high ball on the edge of the area. Steve Clark fired in a shot but Rob Watkins was on hand to block with the ’keeper beaten.

Kitteridge had another nervous moment just after the hour when his poor clearance gave Forbes a chance to shoot from 40 yards. The ’keeper scrambled back but failed to get to the ball, which fortunately dropped narrowly wide.

Eastleigh substitute Lee Roache had a great chance to put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes to go but completely missed his kick when the ball broke to him in the area. Then, minutes later, he dragged another decent opportunity wide.

Having thrown on an extra striker and with Joe Dolan also playing in attack, Town had some pressure in the final stages. Matt Warner went closest to levelling the scores, his well-struck volley forcing Matthews into a full-length dive, with the rebound narrowly evading Phil Ruggles.

Kitteridge even went up for a corner in injury-time but it was all to no avail as Eastleigh held on to win.

Gray said he was disappointed by the result but was pleased with the performance.

“We didn’t do much wrong,” he said. “A bit of slack marking cost us for the goal but overall we did reasonably well.

“It was a battle and we gave them two tough games but we have got to the stage now where, no matter who we are playing against, we are disappointed if we do not take anything from a match.”

Eastleigh: Matthews, Harris, Byles, Riviere, Jordan, Sharp, Adeniyi, Forbes, Brown (sub Groves 73min), Taggart (sub Roache 81min), Clark. Subs (not used): Goodhind, Howells, Martin.

Basingstoke Town: Kitteridge, Aimable, Watkins, Williamson (sub Ruggles 73min), Dolan, Hankin, Jombarti, Hateley, Bossman (sub Tarpey 70min), Tait, Warner. Subs (not used): Jones, Maledon, Mitchell-Coop.

Attendance: 1015