PROGRESS SIGNS ARE A RELIEF FOR STREVENS
EASTLEIGH boss Ben Strevens reflected on a game of two halves as his side came from behind to grab a point which moved them out of the bottom four.
A dire first-half display in scorching heat saw the hosts deservedly trail to Juan Luque’s 15th-minute goal.
But a “few choice words” at the interval saw Eastleigh level within two minutes of the restart through Tyrone Barnett’s first goal for the club.
Indeed, it was only the Spitfires’ second goal in 484 minutes (they remain the division’s lowest scorers with three goals in nine hours of play).
“The first half felt weird,” said Strevens. “It felt like a pre-season game – I don’t know if it was down to the weather. It all felt flat, there was no atmosphere – we did nothing to create an atmosphere. I didn’t enjoy it at all.
“Second half was the total opposite. We were on the front foot for 25 minutes, we played at a high tempo, and we got some really good quality balls in.”
Eastleigh looked the only side likely to grab a winner as they dominated the second half, and were applauded off by their fans who knew they had given their all.
Home keeper Max Stryjek was a virtual spectator as the hosts swarmed forward, with Michael Green and Sam Smart offering width, Jack Payne constantly probing, and Barnett desperate for further goals.
The latter swept home a low left-footed shot on 47 minutes after Williamson failed to get on the end of Green’s near-post cross.
The much-travelled forward was a handful thereafter, seeing one shot blocked, heading a corner narrowly wide, and seeing another header finger-tipped over by Elliott Justham.
It was all a far cry from the opening 45 minutes which had produced very few talking points.
Dagenham opened the scoring with their first on-target effort – Angelo Balanta shrugging off a challenge and crossing low for Luque to tap in at the far post on 15 minutes.
Daggers boss Peter Taylor said: “A draw was a fair result. I was pleased with the first half, but not so with the second. As soon as the second half started we were making unecessary mistakes and putting ourselves under pressure.
“But give credit to Eastleigh – they played some good football and caused us a lot of problems.”
Strevens must wait to see if defenders Reda Johnson and Alex Wynter are fit for tomorrow’s visit to Solihull and a reunion with last season’s top scorer Paul McCallum.
Asked if he was looking forward to seeing McCallum again, Strevens quipped: “No – I was looking forward to watching him playing in League 1 or League 2 this season because that’s where he should be playing!”