Eastleigh FC vs Wrexham Fc Match Report

Eastleigh FC vs Wrexham FC – Silverlake Stadium – 7:30pm KO – Tuesday 3rd December 2019.

A two goal brace by Omari Patrick made sure that Wrexham took all three points with them from Hampshire and saw them move from the bottom of the National League table.

Eastleigh made one change from their FA Cup clash against Crewe which saw Joe Partington make way for Tom Bearwish in the starting eleven. With Wrexham, Dean Keates also made one change which saw Luke Summerfield side-lined and Mark Carrington return back from injury.

The first 10 minutes of the game saw Wrexham dominate in possession and have the first attack on goal which nearly resulted in the first goal of the game. A great break through saw Wrexham go on the attack, Patrick with a great run down the wing saw his shot deflected and move into the path of Wright who on the half volley from the edge of the box had a shot at goal however it was a comfortable save for Stryjek in the Eastleigh net.

Eastleigh managed to get themselves back into the match and saw themselves have a few chances at goal. A free kick taken by Miley saw the ball ricoted around the goal mouth before Smart was able to get into space and take a shot but it was well over the crossbar and nothing to worry about for the Wrexham goal keeper. However Wrexham’s perseverance payed off as just after the quarter-hour mark Omari Patrick made it 1-0, a good run out wide saw Jennings put in great low cross which was met my Patrick for an easy tap in for a goal in all bad defending by Eastleigh.

Fans of both Eastleigh and Wrexham saw both of their sides have chances to make it quite an eventful match. Possession was evened out on both sides and no side was in charge of the game, 10 minutes later from their opening goal Wrexham had the chance to make it 2-0 when Jennings down on the left hand side wing but in a great cross into the box which was met by Kennedy at the back post but his shot was to powerful and went wide of the goal post. Eastleigh had a chance to get an equaliser just before half time, Smart picked the ball from inside his own half and made a wonderful run into Wrexham’s box and quick pass to Rendell and back to Smart saw him put in a great cross towards Miley but Lawlor for Wrexham managed to head it clear for a corner kick.

5 minutes before half time, saw Wrexham go 2-0, Patrick with his second goal of the game and on the way to collecting the three points. A through ball from Grant saw Patrick clear the back line of Eastleigh and easily slide it home through Stryjek’s legs to make it 2-0 to Wrexham a deserving lead so far. At Half time it was Eastleigh 0 Wrexham 2.

Talking to some Eastleigh fans at half time, Nick Swaine, their thoughts was that ‘Eastleigh are playing well with their build up play, but they are lacking in the final third which is crucial if they want to bounce back in the second half.’ Second half sides and no changes are made by either side for when Eastleigh kick us off.

Eastleigh where the better side at the start of the second half and had the better chances. A foul conceded by Patrick on the edge of the box sees Hollands take but nothing comes from the free kick as its hit straight into the Wrexham wall however Patrick was able to produce from the deflection on the wall and make a daring run to the Eastleigh box but loses the ball and ends in an Eastleigh goal kick lucky for the Eastleigh side as Patrick looked like he was on his way to his hattrick.

On the 60^th minute mark Ben Strevens made his first change for the game where he took Tom Bearwish off and Marcus Barnes was brought on. Barnes would hope to be the night saviour like he was on Saturday against Crewe in the FA Cup. Eastleigh where the better team in the second half and had the better chances, a scramble of corner kicks would see Eastleigh test the Wrexham back line but they couldn’t break them down. However Barnes almost made it 2-1 when he was involved in a goal mouth scramble to get the ball in the back of the net, but the Wrexham keeper and the defence where strong enough to deny Eastleigh’s chances. Further changes where made by both teams with Eastleigh taking off Cavaghn Miley for Michael Green and with Wrexham taking off Bobby Grant and Omari Patrick and replacing them with Jason Oswell and Mark Harris. A late volley by Rendell would have broke the 2 goal lead by Wrexham but the shot was wide of the post and it was the last chance for Eastleigh on the night. In the end it ended Eastleigh 0 Wrexham 2, and Wrexham take the three points home back to Wales.