Eastleigh are back at the Silverlake Stadium to face fellow play-off chasers Bromley in the 33rd matchday of the Vanarama National League on Saturday 25th February with a 3pm kick-off. Preview in association with Unibet.
Eastleigh:
The Spitfires continued a fine run of form in midweek by overcoming Maidstone United 3-1 with two of the goals coming in the last 10 minutes at the Gallagher Stadium.
Having won just once away from home in the league prior to the 28th January, Eastleigh have now won three consecutive matches on the road and four matches on the spin, a turn in form which has propelled the Spitfires into the play-off positions.
Eastleigh currently sit in seventh position, three points clear of their opponents who sit directly beneath them in the table as the two prepare to face-off in what is being labelled a ‘play-off six-pointer.’
Jake Scrimshaw marked his return to the club with a goal in midweek scoring the third to put gloss on a tough evening in Kent after JJ McKiernan opened the scoring with his second goal in three away matches to take his tally to four.
Sandwiched between those, was a typically remarkable Danny Whitehall volley, which regained Eastleigh the lead and extended the striker’s advantage at the top of the Spitfires’ goal charts to four, having netted for a 12th time this campaign.
Bromley:
Unlike the Spitfires’ Bromley were unable to register all three points in midweek as the Ravens squandered a lead against the 10-men of Woking, eventually losing 2-1 away from home.
That result typifies the results of late for Bromley who have recorded just two victories in their last seven, drawing four of those, meaning the Ravens have slipped out of the play-off spots in place of their opponents Eastleigh.
Away from home is where Bromley have been struggling, having won just five of 15 matches on the road, meaning that only 18 of their 47 points so far this campaign have come away from Hayes Lane.
Top scorer Mitchell Cheek has nine for the campaign so far, last scoring in a 2-1 victory over Altrincham on Valentine’s Day. Adam Marriott and Omar Sowunmi are in close attendance having netted eight and seven times respectively.
Fixture History:
The two sides have a long history, having met 28 times already in the past. It is a fixture that the Spitfires have largely dominated winning 15 of the meetings while the Ravens’ have taken the victory eight times.
However, the last four times these two sides have faced off, all have gone in favour of Bromley, including earlier this season as the Ravens’ came from behind to take all three points thanks to a brace from Marriott.
Head-to-Head (Last Five):
03/09/22: Bromley 2-1 Eastleigh
15/04/22: Eastleigh 0-2 Bromley
30/08/21: Bromley 3-0 Eastleigh
06/03/21: Eastleigh 1-2 Bromley
31/10/20: Bromley 1-2 Eastleigh
By Sajidur Rahman
