On loan winger Otis Khan was sent off for Yeovil Town as they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Eastleigh on Easter Monday.
Having gone a goal down when Chris Maguire put the home side in front after half-an-hour, Khan grappled with the experienced frontman five minutes later and appeared to throw an elbow at him leaving referee Harry Wager with no choice but to brandish the red card.
That left Yeovil with a numerical disadvantage throughout the second half and, despite more than holding their own, they were unable to find an equaliser.
There were chances for Yeovil at the start of the game and Josh Sims forced a good save from Eastleigh keeper Joe McDonnell towards the end, but a failure to take their chances and the red card proved too much in the end.
First half
The first chance came after just 40 seconds when Eastleigh captain Chris Maguire got away from Marcel Lavinier, who was in for the Alex Whittle at left back,
Lo Everton found Kyrell Wilson running in to the box, he got away from his defender and his shot beat Joe McDonnell in the hosts’ goal but it was blocked on the line. Strange referee Harry Wager pulled play back for an offside.
On 12 minutes, Wilson got away down the right and got a great ball in to Otis Khan in the centre of the box and his effort was deflected wide by Luis Fernandez for a corner. Great opportunity to open the scoring.
After a strong start, the game settled down with neither side creating anything to trouble the keeper until Jai Semenyo’s effort was turned away by Aidan Stone. After a strong start from the visitors, Eastleigh have reshuffled their back line to commit more players forward and have come back in to it.
But on the half-hour mark Eastleigh took the lead as they took advantage of some sloppy Yeovil defending. Angel Waruih got away down the right side and had time to feed it to Chris MAGUIRE who stepped in to the box and hit a shot across Stone and in to the corner of the next.
There was a worrying moment soon after when Harvey Greenslade tried to get away down the right side and was sent crashing to the ground and was clutching his shoulder. That is the same injury which kept him out for a couple of months at the start of the season, but the striker seemed to shrug it off and played on. Keep an eye on that one….
Eastleigh’s tails are now up and Semenyo pulled one wide on 35 minutes and then Yeovil’s afternoon got worse. Otis Khan elbowed Maguire to the floor and was given the easiest red card the referee will give all season. Maguire, an experienced campaigner, has made the most of it, but utterly brainless from Khan.
Three minutes in to first half injury time, Eastleigh tried to work an opening down their left side with Nathan Tshikuna eventually feeding Shade who was one-on-one with Stone on the edge of the six-yard box. The keeper made a fine stop.
From the resulting goal kick, Greenslade was shoved in the back by Fernandez and crashed to the turf again. He’s holding his shoulder again and this time he’s not going to be able to continue. No substitution was made, but I’ll be amazed if we see Harvey Greenslade in this second half. Mark Cooper quite justifiably asking how that is not a booking for Fernandez.
After a bright opening 15 minutes, it has gone from bad to worse for Yeovil and you feel it is going to take quite a shift up through the gears to change it in the second half.
Half time: Eastleigh 1 Yeovil Town 0
Second half
Well, consider me amazed. Harvey Greenslade is back out for the start of the second half. Eastleigh are starting the second half like they finished the first, doubling up on Yeovil in wide positions.
Soon after the restart, the rain began to fall heavily in Hampshire and that triggered a couple of changes from Yeovil. In the 53rd minute my amazement reduced as Ciaran McGuckin came on to replace Greenslade, with Josh Sims replacing Michael Smith. It still looked like a back four with Sims going in at right back, whilst McGuckin joined Wilson as a front two.
Despite having a man disadvantage, Yeovil are not giving up here and are pressing forward with Lavinier in particular causing problems down the right side. But, despite that, Joe McDonnell in the Eastleigh goal as not been forced in to a meaningful save.
There were a couple of changes for the visitors with Charlie Cooper replacing Harry Kite after 75 minutes and then Lewys Twamley (yes, he exists) replaces Lavinier.
On 85 minutes, Yeovil had a great opportunity when Sims picked the ball up on the left and tried to curl one in to the top corner, it was flicked over the bar by McDonnell. Amazingly the referee adjudged McDonnell had not touched it and gave a goal kick. Another great chance to add to a couple at the start of the match.
As the game ticked in to injury time another good break forward found Sims bursting forward and he tried to curl one again, McGuckin tried in vain to get his head on it but it went harmlessly wide.
Full time: Eastleigh 1 Yeovil Town 0
Match Details
Venue: Silverlake Stadium
Date: Monday 21st April, 3pm
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Chris Maguire 30 (0-1)
Pitch: Looked outrageously good
Conditions: April showers – and a bit of thunder and lightning
Attendance: 2,657 (642 away supporters)
Bookings:
Eastleigh: Corey Panter 33, Angel Wariuh, 77, Richard Brindley 85
Yeovil Town: Harry Kite 19, Finn Cousin-Dawson 81,
Sending off:
Eastleigh:
Yeovil Town: Otis Khan 36
Referee: Harry Wager
Yeovil Town (4-3-3)
Substitutes: Ciaran McGuckin (for Harvey Greenslade, 53), Josh Sims (for Michael Sims, 53), Charlie Cooper (for Harry Kite, 78), Lewys Twamley (for Marcel Lavinier, 83), Alex Whittle (not used), Dom Bernard (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Eastleigh: Joe McDonnell, Luis Fernandez, Ludwig Francillette, Chris Maguire (for Richard Brindley, 73), Tyrese Shade, Angel Waruih, Corey Panter, Noa Boutin (for Jake Vokins, 46), Ben Close, Jai Semenyo (for Paul McCallum, 57), Nathan Tshikuna (for Lee Hodson, 78). Substitutes (not used): Lloyd Humphries, Connor Underhill, Tommy Scott.