Eastleigh enter the new year by welcoming Dorking Wanderers to the Silverlake Stadium in the 24th matchday of the Vanarama National League on Sunday 1st January with a 3pm kick-off. Preview in association with Unibet.
Eastleigh-
Eastleigh begin 2023 against their last opponents of 2022 having played Dorking Wanderers just six days ago at the Meadowbank. The match ended 1-1 after Alfie Lloyd’s magnificent first senior goal was cancelled out late on by Ryan Seager meaning both teams shared the points.
The point for the Spitfires meant that they edged closer to the play-off positions and are now just one point off seventh position despite falling from ninth to 11th in the table.
Prior to the Boxing Day fixture, the Eastleigh returned to winning ways with two wins in two days in the week, defeating Woking 2-0 to secure a spot in the fourth round of the FA Trophy on Tuesday, before progressing in the Hampshire Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Hythe and Dibden on Wednesday.
Returning home for the first time in the league since losing 2-0 to Wrexham the Spitfires, will be looking to get back to their formidable form at the Silverlake Stadium where Eastleigh are yet to lose against a team outside the top two.
The QPR loanee’s first goal for the Spitfires meant he became the 11th different goalscorer for the club this season, while Danny Whitehall still leads the race for Eastleigh’s golden boot having scored nine goals so far this campaign.
Dorking Wanderers:
Similarly to the hosts, Dorking Wanderers have been far greater at home than on the road.
The Wanderers have won just twice in 12 matches on the road so far this campaign and conceded 30 goals in the process.
Prior to the draw with Eastleigh on Monday, Dorking progressed in the FA Trophy on penalties following a goalless draw with Yeovil Town. The Wanderers are now unbeaten in their last three fixtures in all competition having won in dramatic fashion scoring two goals in two minutes of stoppage time to come from behind and beat 10-men Maidstone United 3-2 at the Meadowbank two weeks ago.
Dorking remained in 15th position following the stalemate with the Spitfires last time out, but moved an extra point clear of the drop zone and are now 10 points clear of danger having been promoted from the National League South last season via the play-offs.
Seager’s 85th-minute equaliser put the forward into double figures for the season. Still, he remains behind James McShane in the goalscoring charts as McShane has already bagged an impressive 15 goals already this campaign.
Fixture History:
Having never faced off before this season, this is already the third fixture between the pair this campaign.
The first-ever meeting between the two sides in their 23 years of co-existence came in October, in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round where the Spitfires came from behind to win 3-1 at the Meadowbank.
Second-half goals from Tristan Abrahams, Ryan Hill and Danny Whitehall helped overturn a deficit caused by Dan Gallagher of Dorking on the brink of half-time.
By drawing on Boxing Day, just one outcome remains to have happened and the Spitfires will be looking to keep it that way as they look to push forward with their promotion charge.
By Sajidur Rahman
