Top-of-the-league Rochdale beat Eastleigh 2–0 at the Crown Oil Arena, with Tarryn Allarakhia scoring a brace to defeat the Spitfires.
Even though the Spitfires were second best today in Manchester, manager Scott Bartlett was impressed with the improvement his side showed since last week.
“Yeah I was far more encouraged than I have been the last few weeks, I thought that we had some spells that I was really pleased with today”
Despite feeling happier than the last few weeks Bartlett revealed that Eastleigh are not quite up to the level of the big boys just yet.
“We are not quite there yet to go toe to toe for that amount of time with a really good Rochdale team, for all the good shape we had, it was just two individual errors really but look it’s a big step forward for us”
After a close contest in the first 45 minutes, there was no real contest in the second, as Dale got a huge stroke of luck just five minutes into the half when Lloyd Humphries’ clearance flew backwards into his own net from Allarakhia’s cross.
Allarakhia was involved again in the 73rd minute. The forward did not need luck on this occasion, as he smashed a beautiful volley past the Eastleigh goalkeeper to make it 2–0, wrapping up all three points.
Scott Bartlett made two changes from the side that faced Hartlepool last weekend. Unfortunately, Sam Pearson missed out through injury, resulting in James Waite making his debut for the Spitfires. Aaron Pierre also dropped to the bench, with Luis Fernandez replacing him.
The first shot of the game came in the 10th minute when Devante Rodney spun away from Josh Lundstram just outside the box. He then found Joe Pritchard, whose effort was blocked for a corner that amounted to nothing.
Three minutes later, Townsend had to make a superb outstretched save to deny Rodney after Pritchard’s initial shot fell kindly for the striker from close range.
Despite the visitors having the majority of the ball, Josh Lundstram created a golden chance for himself as he picked up the ball on the edge of the box and surged through one-on-one with Nathan Broome. However, Broome made a fantastic save to keep the score level 17 minutes in.
In the 30th minute, Rochdale nearly took the lead through some audacious acrobatics, as Allarakhia attempted the spectacular. He connected well, but Townsend was up to the test.
It was one magnificent attempt after another, as Kieron Evans unleashed a thirty-yard strike towards the top-left corner, and the Welshman was not far away at all, worrying both Broome and the Rochdale faithful.
After the first 37 minutes, many fans would have found it hard to believe the match was still 0–0—especially after a pinpoint back-post delivery was met by Ryan East, who headed across to Allarakhia, only for the forward to somehow fail to put it into the back of the net as Townsend smothered the danger.
The end-to-end first half had one more chance in the 45th minute, as Eastleigh countered with promise. Lundstram managed to pick out Richard Brindley in space on the right-hand side. The fullback struck the ball first time, but his effort went just wide. This was the last chance of the half, which ended 0–0.
After a first half that could have produced an abundance of goals, it didn’t take long for the opener. Just four minutes into the second half, Lloyd Humphries’ attempted clearance found its way into the back of his own net following Allarakhia’s cross into the box.
With 57 minutes on the clock, Eastleigh thought they had their equaliser when a cross met Lundstram’s diving header, but his effort hit the side netting.
Eastleigh failed to capitalise on the one-goal gap, and not long after, it was two. Adebayo-Rowling’s cross was flicked towards Allarakhia by Gordon, and the forward connected beautifully as a thunderous volley flew past Townsend to make it 2–0 with 15 minutes remaining.
Just one minute later, Aaron Blair, who provided a bright spark off the bench, came extremely close to giving the Eastleigh faithful something to cheer about when his left-footed curler flew just wide of the top corner.
Unfortunately for the Spitfires, they were unable to find a response in Manchester, as the long trip back home awaits the excellent Eastleigh fans, who were in fine voice throughout the 90 minutes.
Rochdale: Broome, Gordon, East (Petit 77′), Ebanks-landell, Allarakhia (Gavin 77′), Gilmour (Burger 86′) Dieseruvwe (62′), Rodney (Barlow 62′), Adebayor-Rowling, Pritchard (McBride 62′), Beckwith
Unused Substitutes: Amantchi, Moss
Goals: Allarakhia 54′, Allarakhia 73′
Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley, Humphries, Fernandez, Eweka, Evans, McCallum, Waite, Saunders (Blair 70′) Lundstram (85′ Waruih), Harris
Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Vokins, Pierre, Davis, Whitehead
Yellow Cards: Lundstram 80′
Attendance: 2219
Report by Ed Groves
