Bottomley to the rescue for Eastleigh (From Daily Echo)

Bottomley to the rescue for Eastleigh

8:37am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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IAN Baird's flexible friend Ross Bottomley popped up with a second-half goal to rescue a point for Eastleigh against play-off rivals Bath.

The utility man, who played with a heavily bandaged hand after suffering a serious hand injury at work, defied the pain to earn Eastleigh a valuable point at The Silverlake Stadium on Saturday.

Bottomley began his career as a striker before being converted to a defender.

Yet he started in midfield, alongside new signing Ashley Nicholls, against Bath.

But he showed he has lost none of his striking instincts when he was in the right place at the right time to convert substitute Sam Butler's 67th minute cross.

And Baird was full of admiration for his recent acquisition from AFC Totton, who was due to have a hand operation yesterday, making him a doubt for Wednesday’s home clash with Welling.

“He is a big, strong boy - one of those guys you would like to bring home and marry your daughter,” the Spitfires boss laughed.

“He is a good, honest lad and he will do well for us.”

Eastleigh had earlier fallen behind to a controversial penalty.

Referee Alex Neil deemed defender Luke Wilkinson had tugged Bath striker Darren Edwards' shirt as the pair waited for a corner to arrive in the box.

Baird labelled the penalty award "bizarre" and added: “Pretty much anybody who watches matches on TV will see that players can wrestle eachother down to the ground and there is no penalty given.

“But if you give ones like that you are going to be giving ten or 15 penalties a game."

For a full report don't miss today's Daily Echo.