HANTS SENIOR CUP

Christchurch v Eastleigh

Tuesday October 6th 2009 ko 7:45pm

Match Result: 2 - 1 (After extra-time)

TEAM

1. Stewart Kearn
2. Colin Dand
3. Dave Legg
4. Dan Crutchley
5. Adam Costello
6. Dan Taylor
7. Mark Smith
8. Marc Fairbrother
9. Ben Osborne
10. Ton Jeffes
11. Paul Rideout

SUBS:

Robbie Woolner
Martin Lawrence
Ben Hatch


After a nervous start Christchurch progressed to the next round of the Hampshire Senior cup against a youthful Eastleigh side.
The away side made a bright side and after a fine save by Kearn in the home goal on 3 minutes they opened the scoring on 4 minutes with a sublime finish by Jason Brockett after a defence splitting pass.
It took Church 20 minutes before they had their first effort on goal which was a header from Jeffes that went narrowly wide whilst at the other end player manager Ian Baird hit the bar with a header from a corner.
As Church came more into the game Dan Taylor had an effort kicked off the line with ex Christchurch keeper Dan Loader well beaten and the impressive Marc Fairbrother shot narrowly wide after a fine run. The first half ended with both sides nearly scoring with Kearn tipping a snap shot over the bar and Fairbrother being denied by fine defending at the other end.
Due to an injury to Legg, Martin Lawrence made his comeback from injury and he was instrumental in setting up Osborne on 46 minutes who delayed too long when he should really have scored and in the next minute Mark Smith hit the post with a fine effort.
The home side were now on top with Smith in charge in midfield and following superb interplay down the left Mark Smith equalised with an 18 yard shot.
This gave the home side further confidence and after a period of sustained pressure only an excellent save by Loader denied Jeffes scoring on 88 minutes with the result that the game went into extra time.
The defining moment in extra time came with the introduction of prolific Reserve goal scorer Ben Hatch who had an immediate impact on the game when he was introduced at the start of the second period and he chased down a defenders clearance and with Loader out of his goal the ball fell kindly to Martin Lawrence to net from 20 yards with fierce drive.
The remainder of the game saw the visitors pushing forward but the Church defence with Costello and Crutchley outstanding held firm.
A fine result for Church which saw them maintain their unbeaten home record and also extend their undefeated run but they need to be careful in forthcoming games to start games as well as they finish them.


CHRISTCHURCH MAN OF THE MATCH: MARC FAIRBROTHER

Donners