Harvey Saunders, who was announced last night and started the game on the bench was the difference maker for Kelvin Davis’ super Spitfires in their 2-1 victory at the Silverlake against Altrincham.
The second half of football was completely different to the first as Eastleigh found themselves behind and soaking up lots of pressure however the new man provided a goal and an assist for the Spitfires. The defence stayed resolute and unlike the first-half Nick Townsend had little to do.
Davis reintroduced Zavier Massiah-Edwards, back from the injury that kept him out against Forest Green Rovers last week. The Watford loanee replaced Jake Taylor in the starting XI, with Jordan Cousins once again taking the captain’s armband. With Luis Fernandez sidelined through injury, Louie Holzman joined Temi Eweka and Aaron Pierre in a back three.
The Spitfires launched an early attack when Kieron Evans went down inside the box after feeling contact, but both his and the Eastleigh supporters’ appeals were swiftly waved away by referee Ross Martin. The Welshman had combined neatly with a quick one-two down the right before driving into the area, only to be denied a chance to shoot.
On the 20-minute mark, Altrincham enjoyed a spell of sustained possession and began to threaten the Spitfires penalty area. Working the ball cleverly down the right, Keaton Ward pulled it back for Kahrel Reddin, who cut inside and slid a low pass to Isaac Marriott on the edge of the box. His effort stung the gloves of Nick Townsend, but the rebound fell kindly to James Gale, who made no mistake in putting the Robins 1-0 up.
Ten minutes later, Altrincham threatened to double their advantage with a swift move down the left. Sam Reed whipped in a dangerous cross towards goalscorer James Gale, but the forward couldn’t quite make the connection he was hoping for.
Eastleigh were then forced into an early change when Temi Eweka pulled up injured. Kelvin Davis turned to Sonnie Davis, who slotted in at right-back, with Richard Brindley shifting into the back three.
The Robins continued to pile on the pressure and repeatedly tested Nick Townsend, who was in inspired form. The Spitfires goalkeeper produced a superb double save — first parrying Lewis Banks’ strike from distance before reacting sharply to deny Kahrel Reddin from close range.
Just before the interval, Altrincham went agonisingly close again. Gale’s header was cleared off the line, and from the resulting corner the ball reached the back post, where the hosts struck the woodwork on the stroke of half-time. The Spitfires held on, but trailed 1-0 at the break.
At the break, Kelvin Davis introduced new signing Harvey Saunders in place of Massiah-Edwards, and the forward wasted no time making his mark. Bursting down the left with a brilliant turn of pace, Saunders left his marker behind and delivered a pinpoint cross that Kieron Evans finished superbly to bring the Spitfires level.
Just two minutes later, Saunders was at the heart of the action again. This time it was Aaron Blair who did the hard work down the left, whipping in a fine delivery into the box. Saunders met it perfectly with a looping header that sailed over goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson, completing a quick-fire turnaround and putting Eastleigh 2-1 ahead.
With just two minutes to go Altrincham registered their first shot on target of the second half when they broke well down the right hand side but Townsend saved brilliantly, to keep the score at 2-1 to Eastleigh!
Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Brindley, Eweka (Davis 38′), Pierre, Holzman, Harris, Cousins (C), Evans, Waruih (Taylor 70′), Massiah-Edwards (Saunders 45′), Blair
Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Stone, Underhill, Ingram
Goals: Evans 48′, Saunders 51′
Altrincham: Hutchinson (GK), Banks (C), Reed, Marriott (Osborne 71′), Gale (Kirk 66′), Ward (Weaver 77′), Knowles, Reddin, Crawford, Barnes, Sassi
Unused Substitutes: Baines, Kosylo, Raymond, Fallon
Yellow Cards: Gale 45+1′, Hutchinson 45+2′, Sassi 68′
Goals: Gale 20′
