BOSSES TAKE POSITIVES FROM AN OPENING-DAY BORE DRAW

AN opening-day stalemate was an accurate reflection of a cagey contest between two familiar foes.

With chances at a premium throughout, both managers Neil Smith and Richard Hill stated their satisfaction with proceedings at the final whistle.

“I felt Eastleigh dominated the first 45 minutes and we lacked confidence in ourselves but in the second half we grew into the game and proved what we can do,” said Bromley boss Smith.

“We expect Eastleigh to be up there this season and I’m pleased that we kept them on the back foot in the second half.”

Eastleigh indeed had the better of the first half proceedings with the most notable opportunity falling to Reda Johnson –

the big defender planting Mark Yeates’ cross against the crossbar after David Gregory had misjudged the flight of the cross.

Although Eastleigh had the lion share of possession in the opening 45 minutes they failed to take advantage.

Reflecting on the first half, Spitfires manager Richard Hill stated: “We were the dominant force of the two teams in the first half but we just weren’t clinical enough in front of goal early in the game.”

The second half saw Bromley come out of the traps quickly and Louis Dennis will perhaps reflect on his missed opportunity six minutes after the restart. Adam Mekki did well to play Ben Wynter into space on the right hand touchline but Dennis could only succeed in planting Wynter’s cross into the turf and over the crossbar when it seemed easier to hit the target.

In a role reversal of the first half, Bromley dominated possession but failed to fashion another clear cut opportunity that forced Graham Stack into a meaningful save.

In fact it was two Eastleigh subs combining five minutes from time who could have won the game at the death – Ross Stearn’s corner headed inches wide by Chris Zebroski.