Eastleigh 2-0 Notts County (National League) 27.04.21
A sixth defeat in nine games for new Head Coach Ian Burchnall leaves Notts County depressingly in tenth place after victory for Eastleigh over the Magpies for the second time this season. The second time the Hampshire side have taken the spoils and maximum points against Notts in little under a fortnight.
County started well against a side also gunning for a play off place and after early dominance registered attempts through Reeves who shot over from long range and Knight who’s left footed effort was saved at the near post on thirteen.
On 21 minutes, Notts had a call for a penalty when Knight looked to be tripped inside the area before a lengthy stoppage in the game halted the County push, Chicksen and former Magpie Pierce Bird colliding heads, the game back in action and Notts with more of the same as Wootton then Griffiths forced a double save from the home team goalkeeper McDonnell.
As half time approached, Notts continued to press with Chicksen heading over and Rawlinson flicking wide from a long throw in but the scores were level at the break, not for the want of trying to break the deadlock by the away side.
In truth it was a cracking half of football from Notts, but unable to score, it wasn’t long into the second period before Eastleigh made Ian Burchnall’s side pay.
On 57 minutes it was Boyce who lead the breakthrough with a header from Hill’s cross to put the Spitfires in the lead. Notts continued to push, this time for a leveller but on 74 minutes the home side wrapped up the points as Joe Tomlinson smacked into the top corner to send his side seventh and three points above Notts, who have now scored just one point from their last five league games.
After the match, Burchnall stated that we was “really disappointed with the outcome” saying “they have two shots on our goal all game and score two, we create twelve chances and don’t score”
Burchnall said “We have to be better in the boxes, between it we are playing some really good football but where it counts, we have to do better”.
Next up for Notts is Altrincham on Saturday, a match played between tenth and eleventh, one Notts will be hoping to get something out of to bounce back up the table before their season falls away.
Eastleigh: McDonnell, Partington, Bird, Boyce, Green, Hill (Smith 76), Payne, Miley, Marriott (Baggie 84), Smart, Barnett (Tomlinson 69).
Notts County: Steele, Kelly-Evans, Ellis (Knowles 78), Rawlinson, Turner, Chicksen, Doyle, Griffiths (Boldewijn 60), Reeves, Knight (Rodrigues 69), Wootton.
Venue: Ten Acres
*Main image @EastleighFC goalscoring action as Boyce scores for the home side.
