Two consecutive inept performances prompted St Albans City manager Steve Castle to ring the changes at Clarence Park on Saturday and the response could hardly have been more emphatic as the Saints not only chalked up their first Blue Square South victory of the season but also their biggest win for 30 months as Eastleigh were humbled on a glorious summers day.
For the second successive Saturday Eastleigh had five goals rammed into Jason Matthew’s net and given the clear faults in the Spitfires back line the former Weymouth keeper could be in for a few more busy afternoons during the coming months.
For City, though, there was not only the joy of a rare victory, their second in eleven league games, but it was achieved through five different goalscorers, something that is certain to give the whole team a boost. It is also the first occasion since the scintillating 5-4 win at Bedford Town in May 2004 that five City goals have been shared by five different scorers.
With the Saints midfield seemingly lacking bite during the early games to the season, Castle moved James Quilter forward from the middle of the defence and the result was devastating. Quilter was a revelation as the Saints at last won a high number of challenges and headers, something that allowed Ben Bowditch to move forward and show his undoubted class.
James Fisher was switched from right back to join Ben Martin at the heart of the defence and the former Chelsea youngster hardy put a foot wrong alongside the City captain. Stepping in for Fisher at right back, on his home debut, was Lee Protheroe who wasted no time in slotting in efficiently and effectively with his new team mates. Scott Cousins completed the back line and made a welcome return to his best form.
Having recovered from his hamstring injury, Hassan Sulaiman was recalled to the right of the midfield and crowned a performance full of promise with a superbly executed goal. On the opposite flank was Jonathan Hunt whose excellent short and long passing won him the sponsor’s man of the match award.
The biggest surprise in Castle’s shake up was the decision to drop Lee Clarke, Simon Martin being the beneficiary as he lined up alongside Paul Hakim who was another to catch the eye as Castle savoured the biggest win during his 85 matches as City boss.
Simon Martin’s recall would have come as a major surprise to anyone who witnessed his display for the Reserves in midweek, when he missed at least five wonderful chances. But such memories were banished within five minutes of Saturday’s kick off.
Quilter, attacking down the City left towards the Hatfield Road goal, won the Saints second corner of the match. Eastleigh squandered two opportunities to clear the danger from Hunt’s dead-ball cross and were punished when Fisher’s shot into the ground rebounded high off a defender towards the back post where Quilter headed the ball back into the middle. With his back to goal, Martin leapt from the ground and with a stunning right-footed overhead kick drove the ball to Matthews’ left to open City’s account for the day.
Already it was evident that the Spitfires defence was not watertight, yet at the opposite end of the pitch Ian Baird’s side looked capable of notching a goal or two themselves. Paul Bastock had already been called into action once, to save from Matt Groves, by the time the Saints went two up on ten minutes.
Hakim teased the visitors defence by standing deep inside their half as Bastock prepared to launch a goal kick. Not believing that the Bostonians 38 year old legs could carry the ball that distance, Hakim was left unattended. Seconds later the horrified Eastleigh rearguard gave chase as Bastock’s huge kick sent Hakim clear and with a clinical and cool lob from just outside the penalty area the City striker claimed his fourth goal of the season.
Eastleigh quickly set about reducing the arrears with both Groves and Jamie Brown going close while City had strong penalty appeals rejected when Hakim, latching onto an exquisite through ball from Simon Martin, was bundled over by Luke Byles.
Bastock was again called into action midway through the half when former City trialist James Baker slid a square pass into the penalty area. As Groves closed in Bastock moved swiftly towards the striker and slid in just in time to knock the ball into Groves and out for a goalkick.
Sulaiman, a constant threat but guilty of inconsistent delivery, worked a one-two with Simon Martin before unleashing a shot that Matthews saved in comfort. Moments later Bowditch sent Hakim through the middle, only for Tom Jordan’s masterful tackle to block the shot. Hakim was quickly back on his feet to collect the loose ball but the keeper easily gathered his rushed shot.
Eastleigh’s most dominant figure was that of Tony Taggart and when his fiercely struck free kick forced Bastock to punch the ball away Peter Adeniyi sent the rebound high over the York Road goal. Simon Martin confirmed his return to form when seizing upon a bouncing ball and running at the visitors defence before testing Matthews with a ground shot.
City survived an anxious moment when Ban Martin misjudged a heave down the pitch by Matthews and allowed Baker to break clear. Bastock was alert to the danger and not only blocked the ball at the striker’s feet but was quickly on his feet to complete the clearance.
Eastleigh continued to search for a way back into the game but Groves, who has scored against City in the past for Dorchester, was in wasteful mood. The blonde striker headed straight at Bastock from point blank range following a Taggart cross and followed that with an under strength low shot that Bastock grasped by his feet.
Three minutes from the break and the battle was all but over as City extended their lead with Ben Martin’s first goal since April last year. Simon Martin won City’s fourth corner of the half on the Saints left and from Hunt’s cross Ben Martin rose above Adeniyi and Jordan to power a header high to Matthews’ left.
The half ended with Bastock and Hunt almost coming to blows after a disagreement in the home goalmouth. Taking a whack to the head seconds earlier when catching a cross, something that left him with a sizeable lump behind one ear, had not helped the keeper’s mood.
In some of the warmest temperatures enjoyed during this otherwise damp and grey summer it was not surprising to see the chances thin out during the second half, even so City still mustered two high quality finishes to move their goal difference into credit.
Eastleigh saw their hopes of salvaging something from the game falter when a Taggart ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside, possibly against Baker. City too suffered a setback when Hakim limped off with a hip injury that has left him doubtful for Tuesday’s home match with Bishop’s Stortford, one of his former clubs. But Hakim’s departure did allow Cohen to make his home debut and the former Grimsby Town player took his chance well.
The second half contained several long periods of relative inactivity but Bastock was again in action on 64 minutes to collect a crisp, but straight, effort from Baker. Four minutes later and Sulaiman showed that precision rather sheer power was a better route to goal.
Eastleigh left back Trevor Challis misjudged a ball down the City right by Quilter and a frantic back pass only skied the sphere up into the air. Sulaiman demonstrated great composure in watching the ball drop inside the penalty area before lifting an outstanding volley, with his right instep, over the stranded Matthews for his first goal in 51 weeks.
Baird’s frustration at seeing his side receive a second successive hammering on their travels was evident as a water bottle went flying over the visitors dug out and into the perimeter fencing. And on 82 minutes City felt in the mood for something a touch stronger than water as Cohen scored a wonderful fifth goal.
Bowditch collected the ball just inside the Spitfires half and moved forward without a semblance of a challenge. The former Spurs midfielder and England Youth international slid the ball to his left and into the path of Cohen who sprinted past right back Aaron Martin and from a tight angle, just outside the six-yard box, drove a powerful left footed shot across the keeper and inside the far post for an outstanding debut goal. |
