What a wonderful night for a moondance!! There was a slight risk that we'd have to play under the full moon when one of the lights went out but luckily the rest stayed on and a huge crowd of supporters, from both sides of the M3, were priviledged to see the game of the season so far...
Within minutes of the start Webby pulls off a spectacular save to keep the score level and Karl demonstrates his electrifying pace to keep the Eastleigh strike force under control but almost inevitably Eastleigh soon take the lead when the Winchester midfield fail to cut out a ball through the centre that is calmly sloted under the keeper. Under severe pressure Webby is warned about his language (a bit of French i think) before a double substitution saw the introduction of Zak and Jack to try to take back control of the midfield and Winchester slowly started to impose themselves on the game.
The fight back continues in the second half as Winchester push Eastleigh back in to their own goal area for long periods. The battle is not for the feint hearted. Jamie goes off injured and Dan takes a whack to the back of the head. Steve lines up the free kick and curls the ball into the box where Zak rises above the defense to head in to the corner.. 1 - 1 Game on...
With the game in the balance and chances at both ends it could go anyway. Matt put's Ben through the middle only for the keeper to make a fantastic save. Karl makes another great tackle to snuff out the danger but at the resulting corner Webby is pulled down by the Eastleigh attacker but luckily the ball goes harmlessly wide. With time running out the defense finally allow Eastleigh the slightest of opportunities and that was all they needed to get their noses back in front cutting in from the left and crashing the ball into the top corner.
Winchester pushed Zak forward to go 4-3-3 in search of an equaliser but with seconds left and with the rain starting to fall Eastleigh broke away to make it 3 -1. Fantastic match and a great evening - Well done to all the players and supporters. Is a crowd of 148 some sort of record for the U16's?
Next match AFC Stoneham in the Youth Cup...
