Get the lowdown on our next opponents: Eastleigh.
The Opposition
Eastleigh will be aiming to secure their fifth tier status after a disappointing campaign so far, and currently sit just five points above the drop zone.
The Spitfires are onto their third manager of the campaign, with Richard Hill returning to the Silverlake Stadium after Scott Bartlett’s dismissal last month, who in turn had replaced Kelvin Davis back in September.
The former Southampton goalkeeper had guided the club to a respectable 13th place finish last term to seal an 11th successive season in the National League, before a streak of just three wins from their opening nine games brought a close to his time in charge in SO50, and subsequently brought the appointment of highly rated Weston-super-Mare boss Bartlett.
Having departed Somerset with the Seagulls sat second in the National League South, a division he had led the club to after winning the Southern League Premier South title in 2023, it had seemed that exciting things were set to be on the horizon at Ten Acres, and led to him tasting just one defeat from his opening eight games in all competitions, including progressing to the FA Cup First Round with victory over Hampton & Richmond Borough.
However, this was followed by large spells of inconsistency, with a seven game-winless streak preceding another five-match unbeaten run, and proved to be a pattern that plagued his time in charge in Hampshire as Eastleigh were unable to put together a regular enough run to climb the table.
As such, Bartlett’s brief spell with the Spitfires came to an end after a 4-0 defeat at relegation-threated Morecambe, and left them sat 18th in the National League, six points above the drop zone, with Hill returning for his fourth spell in charge at the Silverlake, being tasked with guiding them away from danger.
He will subsequently rely on a squad rife with quality despite their struggles this term, including the likes of former Maidstone United forward Aaron Blair, who tops Eastleigh’s goalscoring charts with 15 goals and is bettered by just five players in the entire division.
Blair’s efforts in the final third have been aided by an additional seven strikes from Harvey Saunders; 45.83% of their entire tally this season (48) have been scored by the duo, while the consistency of Nick Townsend in goal, along with the likes of Archie Harris, Temi Eweka, Kieron Evans, Aaron Pierre, Lloyd Humphries and Josh Lundstram has seen Eastleigh build a settled side, something their new temporary basis will be looking to wield during the latter stages of the campaign.
The Manager
Richard Hill
Former boss Richard Hill replaced Scott Bartlett in the Silverlake Stadium dugout on an interim basis, being given the task to guide Eastleigh to safety after a poor run of form saw them drop closer to the drop zone.
A former midfielder, Hill turned out for Leicester City, Nuneaton Borough, Christchurch United, Northampton Town, Watford, Oxford United and Kettering Town during his playing days, most notably for the Cobblers with 46 goals in 86 games, before hanging up his boots in 1992 due a knee injury, having amassed 69 goals from 171 Football League games.
He subsequently embarked on a managerial career which saw him serve in a host of assistant roles alongside John Gregory at Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers, Brian Little at Aston Villa, Martin Wilkinson at Northampton, Andy Hessanthaler at Gillingham, Tranmere Rovers and Reading, as well as coaching Swindon Town and scouting for Derby County. He has also been appointed as Technical Advisor of the Ethiopia National Team, working with them during AFCON Qualifiers, as well as assistant manager at Kazakhstani side FC Kairat.
His first solo role saw him take charge at Stevenage Borough in 1998, taking charge at Broadhall Way for two years, before returning to full time management at Eastleigh in 2012. A three-year stint at the Silverlake Stadium saw him lead the club to the Conference South play-off semi-final before winning the division the following year, and subsequently, in their first ever season at fifth tier level, guided them to another play-off spot.
He subsequently resigned from his post to join Whitehawk after three years, but returned to Hampshire in 2017 as Director of Football and Caretaker Manager, having spent time as part of Steve Bruce’s recruitment staff at Aston Villa the previous year. Hill later joined Sunderland as Head of Football Operations before returning to Eastleigh once more, this time as Club Director, but was placed initially in temporary charge of the first team following Lee Bradbury’s dismissal, a role he took on permanently between September 2023 and February 2024.
However, the 62-year old returned for a fourth stint at Eastleigh as recently as this February, taking on the position until the end of the season.
One to Watch
Aaron Blair
Aaron Blair has enjoyed a stellar first season at Eastleigh, having made the step up from the National League South to score 15 goals so far.
Blair’s journey began in the academy ranks of Dagenham & Redbridge before his search for senior experience saw him enjoy successful loan spells with Brightlingsea Regent and Braintree Town during the 2022/23 season. His performances – particularly a return of five goals in seven appearances during one of his Braintree stints – meant he impressed and reaped the rewards.
The striker then made a permanent move to Braintree, where his development accelerated. Over two standout seasons, he made 91 appearances and scored 31 goals, playing a pivotal role in the Iron’s 2023/24 National League South play-off triumph in which he netted in both the semi-final and final to help secure promotion.
In June 2024, Blair signed with Maidstone United, joining a squad with serious ambitions under manager George Elokobi, and slotted in seamlessly with eight goals in 26 league appearances in the 2024/25 campaign as the Stones reached the play-off final, losing out to Boreham Wood.
However, Blair nonetheless found himself in the fifth tier with a switch to Eastleigh, and has been their standout player amidst a difficult campaign so far, top scoring with 15 goals so far this term.
Recent Form
Hartlepool United 1-0 Eastleigh
Eastleigh 1-3 Rochdale AFC
Eastleigh 2-1 Brackley Town
York City 3-1 Eastleigh
Eastleigh 1-2 Carlisle United
Eastleigh 2-1 Truro City
Last Time Out
Eastleigh produced a determined performance but were narrowly beaten 1-0 on a tough trip to promotion-chasing Hartlepool United.
Hartlepool began on the front foot and eventually made their pressure count, breaking the deadlock when Jamie Miley’s low, driven cross was parried by Nick Townsend, but only into the path of Matt Daly, who capitalised on an open opportunity to give the hosts the lead, tapped home what proved to be the only goal of the game.
The Spitfires showed great resilience throughout and pushed until the very final whistle in search of an equaliser, but despite their efforts, they were unable to find a way through.
Photo Credit: Graham Scrambler // Eastleigh Football Club
