Eastleigh vs Valenciennes

Eastleigh started brightly and created the first clear chance when Max Dickov volleyed wide from a dangerous Hady Ghandour cross (18'). Ben Drake then came closest to breaking the deadlock, whipping a free-kick from the edge of the box just past the post (30').

Valenciennes had already threatened — Charles Abi fired into the side-netting from close range (24') — and took the lead from a well-worked corner two minutes after Drake's near-miss. Kader Diomande laid the ball off to Rouai Mabrouk, who found the net from close range (32').

Eastleigh's Nick Akoto had earlier made a vital goal-line clearance to deny Abi (7'), keeping the score level until the corner routine broke the deadlock.

Matt Gray made five changes at half-time, introducing Connor Underhill, Ilya Ihnatenko, Aaron Pierre and two trialists. Ihnatenko tested Valenciennes goalkeeper Jean Louchet early in the second half, but the visitors gradually took control.

Vincent Marcel tapped home after good work down the left from Zaid Amir (78'), then added a precise finish with one minute of normal time remaining (89') to complete a comfortable victory.

Valenciennes' 32nd-minute opener from the corner routine shifted the dynamic. Eastleigh had matched the French side until that point — Drake's free-kick and Akoto's goal-line clearance were the game's defining moments — but chasing the game against a physically stronger, technically sharper opponent in the second half proved too much. The introduction of Marcel as a second-half substitute added the cutting edge that had been missing.

Vincent Marcel (Valenciennes) — The substitute scored twice in the final 13 minutes, showing composure for the tap-in and a crisp finish for the third. The brace was his only involvement of note but decided the match.

Rouai Mabrouk (Valenciennes) — Scored the opener from the corner routine, his finish from Diomande's lay-off proving the game's pivotal moment.

Nick Akoto (Eastleigh) — Made a vital goal-line clearance in the first half to deny Abi, and was a threat going forward down the right flank. The summer signing had opened his account for the club on his home debut against Southampton four days earlier.

Ben Drake (Eastleigh) — The summer signing came closest to scoring for the hosts, his whipped free-kick whistling just past the post.

Provider data shows three goals from 0.89 xG at the time of the third goal, reflecting a match where Valenciennes were clinical with limited clear-cut chances. Eastleigh had spells of pressure — particularly before the opener and early in the second half — but lacked the cutting edge to convert possession into clear chances. The clean sheet was Valenciennes' first of pre-season after a 1-1 draw with Southampton on 18 July.

Eastleigh have now lost both of their pre-season home friendlies against Sport Republic-owned opposition, following the 3-1 defeat to Southampton four days earlier. Gray's side are still building fitness and understanding under the new manager. The Spitfires' next fixture is a home friendly against League Two side Crawley Town at the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday 25 July (15:00 BST).

Valenciennes continue their pre-season preparations with another friendly scheduled before the start of the Championnat National campaign.

A fair result that reflected the gap between a National League side and a well-organised French third-tier outfit. Eastleigh were competitive for an hour but faded as Valenciennes' depth and physicality told. The trialists and EDS players given minutes in the second half will benefit from the exposure, but Gray will want more defensive solidity and sharper finishing before the competitive season begins.