The Spitfires preparations for the new season continued with a well-earned win against National League South side Salisbury.

Goals from Trialist A and Paul McCallum gave us a half-time lead, before a late goal from Angel Wariuh restored our two-goal lead following Evander Grubb’s goal back for the Whites.

Manager Kelvin Davis named three summer signings in his starting XI, with Josh Lundstram and Aaron Blair in particular playing an instrumental part in Eastleigh flying out of the blocks through crosses into the box and penetrating runs to stretch the defence.

The deadlock was broken inside seven minutes through the game’s first corner, as Trialist A turned in a header back across goal from close range.

Just two minutes later, the Spitfires doubled their advantage as McCallum took full advantage of a defensive error from a ball in behind to lob over the trialist goalkeeper who was caught off his line.

Despite the hosts gradually growing into the game and enjoying more possession, Eastleigh came close to scoring a third inside the opening 17 minutes. Blair dispossessed a defender attempting to shepherd the ball out of play and looked to square it for McCallum to double his tally, but the pass was cut out at the crucial moment.

Salisbury’s best chance in the opening half-hour fell to Noah Coppin, who broke free from his marker just 10 yards out and forced a strong save from Trialist B.

The visitors threatened again shortly after, when Vokins found space just inside the box following some neat build-up play, but his low effort drifted agonisingly wide of the far post.

A nervy moment for Eastleigh followed when Trialist A misjudged a clearance under pressure, gifting a Salisbury forward the chance to chip the ball into the box with the goalkeeper stranded. Fortunately for the hosts, Luis Fernandez was alert to the danger and cleared the threat, preserving the two-goal cushion at the break.

Brian Dutton’s lone half-time substitution paid immediate dividends, as Matty Taylor latched onto a long ball from midfield and teed up Grubb, who calmly slotted home a consolation goal just four minutes after the restart.

By the hour mark, Dutton had introduced a raft of changes. Archie Harris, Temi Eweka, Tyrese Shade, Richard Brindley, Jake Taylor, Angel Waruih, and Kieron Evans had all entered at the break, with Sol Ceesay, George Cole, and Freddie Ingram later joining the fray to help re-establish Eastleigh’s control.

With 20 minutes remaining, Evans found himself in space and advanced towards goal, though the angle was tight. Still, his effort drew a smart save from the Salisbury goalkeeper, who did well to deny what looked destined for the far corner.

Eastleigh sealed the win 10 minutes from time. Shade picked up the ball in a pocket of space and threaded a precise through ball into the path of Waruih, who opened up his body and coolly found the bottom corner to restore the two-goal advantage.

Salisbury: Trialist A, Sommerton (Trialist C 60′), Atkinson (Trialist B 75′), Ngalo, Foran (Trialist D 77′), Taylor (Lee-Higgs 60′), Keeya (Grubb 45′), Willard, Coppin (Reivers 73′), Dore, Revan

Unused Subs: Trialist B, Christie, Trialist E

Goals: Grubb (49′)

Eastleigh: Trialist B, Vokins (Harris 45′), Trialist A (Ceesay 60′), Fernandez (Eweka 45′), Blair (Shade 45′), Killick (Cole 60′), Michel (Brindley 45′), McCallum (Ingram 60′), Lundstram (Taylor 45′), Cousins (Waruih 45′), Underhill (Evans 45′)

Unused Subs – Townsend, Mubiru

Goals: Trialist A (7′), McCallum (10′), Waruih (80′)

Attendance: 606

Report by Ashton Cox