Captain fantastic as Danny Hollands rescues Eastleigh against Hartlepool

It was the tale of two halves as Eastleigh salvaged a 1-1 draw against a rampant first-half Hartlepool.

The Monkey Hangers travel back to Durham without the victory after a second-half fightback from Eastleigh gave the two sides a point apiece.

The first 45 minutes saw a totally dominant performance from the visitors, as Gime Toure’s curling effort separated the sides.

After the break, the Spitfires returned with renewed hope. Despite a penalty miss from Ben Williamson, Danny Hollands bagged his sixth of the season to keep Eastleigh just above Hartlepool in the National League.

Ben Strevens’ men began the day in 16th place despite a last-gasp 3-2 victory against Torquay on Tuesday evening. Academy graduate Tom Bearwish snatched the winner in the 92nd minute to take all three points away from the west country.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool were level on points but a spot below in 17th. With only one goal separating the two sides, the clash on the south coast had the hallmarks of a tight, edgy affair.

In his programme notes, Ben Strevens admitted a win against Hartlepool could act as the catalyst to kick-start their season:

“It’s going to be another tough team to play against, but we have a game plan together to beat them. If we back up Tuesday’s result with another win then all of a sudden, we’ve gone from 20th to in and around the play-offs.”

The Spitfires initial optimism was quickly removed with ten minutes on the clock. Southampton loanee Marcus Barnes was dispossessed in a dangerous area, allowing Hartlepool’s top scorer Gime Toure an opportunity on the edge of the box. With the help of a Blue defender slipping, Toure chopped back inside before curling an effort through a sea of Eastleigh bodies and into the far post net.

Although the Spitfire faithful did their best to get their side going, Hartlepool seemed to grow in strength. The Monkey Hangers began controlling proceedings, testing the vulnerable Eastleigh back-line.

Perhaps it wasn’t a surprise to see Eastleigh appear fragile defensively. After all, Rob Atkinson was the only recognised centre-back among the ranks. Strevens was forced to employ a back four, adapting his preferred 5-3-2 system to a 4-3-3 for the first time this campaign.

On the half hour mark, the home side had their first chance of any note. A neat passing move resulted in Sam Smart flashing a low delivery across the box that had to be cleared by Hartlepool skipper Michael Raynes. However, the southern outfit were yet to trouble Ben Killip in the visitors goalmouth.

Sporting a bright yellow and pink outfit, Killip’s kit was lively to say the least and more importantly, was yet to have a mud stain on it – a sign of Hartlepool’s dominance.

Eastleigh battled but were off the pace first half – photo: @_GSphotography/Twitter

The second-half picked up where the first ended as Hartlepool’s pace in attack continued to cause havoc. Jason Kennedy came close to doubling their lead after a cut-back cross found the midfielder in acres of space, 12-yards out. Fortunately for the hosts, Max Stryjek was able to smother the relatively tame effort.

But minutes later, Eastleigh were given an unlikely lifeline when referee Lloyd Wood pointed to the spot. Rob Atkinson was judged to have been fouled after a tangle in the box. It gave Ben Williamson the golden chance to level things up and double his tally for the season.

However, the striker’s penalty was saved by the fluorescent Ben Killip. Diving sharply to his right, the shot-stopper parried Williamson’s effort past the post.

Despite the setback, Ben Strevens would have been pleased with side’s response. On the hour mark, midfielder Cavaghn Miley drove into the box and squared the ball to Sam Smart, who seemingly had a tap-in. But with goalkeeper Killip stranded, a wall of green shirts were on hand to clear Smart’s strike off the line.

Strevens gambled soon after; hero of Tuesday night Tom Bearwish was brought on for full-back Charlie Seaman. The substitution allowed the Eastleigh boss to revert back to a 5-3-2, with the attacking pair of Barnes and Smart used as wing-backs.

The tactical switch seemed to pile the pressure on the visitors. The resulting corner from a deflected Miley effort proved decisive.

The in-swinging delivery was met by the head of Danny Hollands, who glanced his header past the despairing Killip for the equaliser. It was the veteran’s sixth goal of the season and probably his most vital.

Having already rolled the dice in pursuit of a goal, Eastleigh were now left open defensively. Gime Toure could have had his second but was unable to keep his footing at the point of contact.

Both sides huffed and puffed but were unable to be separated when the final whistle blew. It was an absorbing match, where both sides felt disappointed but relieved to not have lost.

Team Lineups

Eastleigh (4-3-3): Stryjek; Seaman (Bearwish 64′), Partington, Atkinson, Green, Smart; Hollands (c), Payne, Miley; Barnes (Rendell 76′), Williamson (Barnett 60′)

Subs unused: Flitney, Scorey

Hartlepool (5-3-2): Killip; Kioso, Raynes (c), Richardson, Cunningham, Kitching; Holohan, Kennedy, Mafuta, Kabamba (James 72′), Toure (Muir 83′)

Subs unused: Crichlow-Noble, Bale, Hawkes