Eastleigh suffered defeat on the road against Boreham Wood at the Magnata Development Stadium in the Enterprise National League.
After a first half that ended 0-0, it was all to play for in the second half. Boreham Wood came out of the blocks firing, and after constant pressure on the Eastleigh goal, Abdul Abdulmalik eventually opened the scoring. The Spitfires never really bounced back from the early second-half goal they conceded. They managed to keep the difference at just one until the last ten minutes, when substitute Luke Richardson doubled the hosts’ lead.
Following progression to the next round of the FA Cup after a 2-0 win against Hampton and Richmond, Scott Bartlett opted for only one change in the starting XI for the clash in Hertfordshire against Boreham Wood in the league. Kieron Evans was awarded his first start under Bartlett as Josh Lundstram dropped to the bench. Aaron Pierre was back from suspension and international duty but started the game on the bench for the first time this season. Eastleigh’s other international, Archie Harris, is back with the squad after he started in a 2-0 win against Austria for Wales U21s; he also starts on the bench today.
The game came into life within three minutes when a wayward back pass from Sonnie Davis sprung Nick Townsend into immediate action. He he had to get to the ball first before oncoming Abdulmalik, Eastleigh’s number one made a fantastic sliding tackle which fell to Zak Brunt just outside the box. Brunt attempted to chip Townsend but his effort went over the bar.
Two minuets later after Evans brilliantly won the ball back in midfield, the Spitfires gained a good spell of possession. Captain Jack Taylor received the ball and picked out a great pass into the run of Jake Vokins. Vokins decided to cross early, but his ball was fired across the box above the head of Ciaran McGuckin.
In the 10th minute, McGuckin’s excellent footwork allowed him to wriggle away from three white Boreham Wood shirts. His pass then found the feet of Harvey Saunders, who burst away down the left wing. Saunders then slid the ball across goal, but McGuckin’s shot was blocked by Callum Reynolds, only as far as Evans at the edge of the box. Evans took one touch to set himself, then sent a curling effort towards Finlay Herrick’s goal; however, Tom White heroically headed the ball away.
Eastleigh’s number 10 continued to cause stress to the Wood defence. McGuckin hounded down Chris Bush after a long ball down the left from Sonnie Davis. Bush, who could not handle the pressure, slipped, allowing McGuckin to run into the open space down the right-hand side. He continued making inroads until his shot was saved by Herrick. The rebound once again fell to Evans, but his shot flew over.
After Herrick had passed the tests thrown at him so far, it was Townsend’s turn to face the brunt of it. A 25-yard free-kick was saved brilliantly after Jeff King unleashed a powerful effort towards the roof of the Spitfires’ goal.
King, who took the free-kick, then went out to take the corner. He delivered the ball fiercely to the back post, where Charlie O’Connell, who was unmarked, flashed his header across the face of goal just wide of the post.
By the 40th minute, Boreham Wood had begun to grow into the game and were relentless in their attacks. Matt Rush got to the byline and crossed low and hard for Bush. Bush struck his shot low and hard, but once again Townsend got down to deny the hosts to keep it 0-0 going into half time.
The second half started exactly how the first half ended. Boreham Wood piled on the pressure but the resolute Spitfires’ dealt with it. The ball was smashed around like a ball in a pinball machine as an initial shot from King was blocked heroically from Vokins. Vokins then blocked another shot but the threat did not stop there until Jordan Cousins cleared away the danger after a moment of madness.
Eight minutes into the half, the hosts were rewarded for their persistence. Abdulmalik drove with the ball towards the heart of the Eastleigh defence, cutting in from the left-hand side. The winger was not closed down and bent a right-footed shot into the far-right corner, leaving Townsend with no chance. After starting the half with real intent, Boreham Wood found themselves 1-0 up against Eastleigh.
Similar to the goal that put Boreham Wood ahead, Brunt found himself with plenty of space at the edge of the box with the ball at his feet, the midfielder continued to drive forwards and the Spitfires continued to back off. This time, though, the shot went straight down the throat of Townsend, who parried to safety.
In the 64th minute, Boreham Wood had a golden chance to double their lead and potentially seal the victory. However, the chance was wasted when Rush missed a close-range effort from Joe Newton’s low cross.
However, with just ten minutes to go, Boreham Wood did get that elusive two-goal lead. Abdulmalik, who caused a lot of problems for the Eastleigh defence all afternoon, managed to beat Davis on the left-hand side and pick out Lewis Richardson, who fired home to make it 2-0.
With five minutes to go, Temi Eweka managed to deny the chance for Norris to make it 3-0 when substitute Charles Clayton fired a fantastic ball across the floor from the left-hand side into the path of danger. However, Eweka got there first.
Ewekas decisive action was the last of the 90 minutes as Eastleigh fell to defeat for the first time under Scott Bartlett at the helm at the hands of Boreham Wood.
Boreham Wood: Herrick (Gk), Bush, O’connell, Sousa (Richardson 69′), Brunt (Clayden 86′), Abdulmalik (Norris 86′), Newton, King (Coxe 75′), Reynolds, White, Rush
Goals: Abdulmalik 53′ Richardson 81′
Yellow Cards: Abdulmalik 75′ Bush 82′
Unused Substitutes: Dixon, Benton, Henry,
Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Vokins (Harris 65′), Fernandez, Eweka, Davis, Taylor(Lundstram 65′)(C), Humphries (Underhill 90+1) , Cousins, McGuckin, Evans (Skinner 65′), Saunders (Wariuh 90+1)
Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Pierre,
Yellow Cards: Eweka 69′ Skinner 71′ Davis 84′
Attendance: 1,021 (92)
