Pre-season action continued for the Spitfires as they play out a draw against National League South side, Weymouth.

The first real chance the game came in the seventh minute, Keelan O’Connell found his way into the box and ran towards the byline before releasing what could’ve been a cross or a shot from a tight angle. We will never know which one it was though, as Luis Fernandez managed to quickly get across to deflect his effort away from danger.

The Terras won a penalty in the after Liam Webber took one of their attackers in the box. Francis Amartey was the man chosen to attempt to open the scoring from 9-yards out, he did just that and found the left side of the net with his effort.

Scott Quigley came close to levelling the scoring in the 22nd minute. Chris Maguire lofted a pass over the Weymouth defence and into Quigley’s path, he struck a venomous effort on the half-volley towards goal that was matched well by a diving Gerard Benfield.

Just two minutes later, Quigley had another go on goal and would find the back of the net this time round. Trialist B played a cross into his path so that he could cleanly place the ball home to level the scoring.

Deja Sotona came close to giving the Spitfires the lead just seven minutes later, he broke through one-on-one with Benfield but could not bend his shot round the Terras ‘keeper and the score remained level for the next few moments.

Amartey would change this with his second goal of the afternoon. His shot from the left side of the box found its way into the back of the net, restoring the hosts lead in the process.

Following this, for the remainder of the half neither side created any goal scoring opportunities meaning the Spitfires would go into the break narrowly behind.

The start to the second-half also mostly consisted of play around the middle of the park, with neither side able to break down their oppositions defences.

Amartey came close to bagging his hat trick with just over 20 minutes to go, but Fernandez again managed to throw himself in front of the ball and deny the Terras attacker from extending his sides lead.

Trialist A had a go on goal shortly after being introduced into the game, he struck the ball on the edge of the box after receiving it from a short corner, but his curling effort went just wide of the target and out for a goal-kick.

In the 76th minute, Sotona curled the ball into the box from a corner and found the head of Paul McCallum who attempted to direct the ball into the back of the net but saw his shot edge just wide of the post.

McCallum then had another go on goal in the 86th minute and levelled up the scoring in typical fashion. Richard Brindley swung a cross into the box that he got his head onto before blasting it towards goal, Benfield managed to get a hand to his effort but it was too powerful and it found its way into the back of the net.

Former Spitfire, Ben Greenwood had a long range free-kick blocked in a late attempt to restore the Terras lead. His effort would be the last real bit of action as the game would go on to end in a draw.

Eastleigh: Scott (GK), Humphries (Taylor 46′), Fernandez (Edmondson 78′), Maguire (Brindley 70′), Sotona (Dotse 78′), Trialist B (Trialist A 70′), Nwabuokei (Shade 70′), Waruih (Rogers 70′), Panter (Fox 78′), Quigley (McCallum 70′), Webber (Francillette 46′)

Unused subs: McDonnell (GK)

Goals: Quigley (24′), McCallum (86′)

Weymouth: Benfield (GK), Genesini, Rowan (Trialist A 78′), Thompson (Touray 60′), Pollock, O’Connell (Bearwish 19′), Amartey, Greenwood, Linton (Trialist B 78′), McQuoid (Hamblin 60′), Jordon

Goals: Amartey (11′, 31′)

Attendance: 436

Report by Matthew Gibbs