The Spitfires make the long trip up north to take on Hartlepool United in their next National League clash on Saturday 7th October, with a kick-off time of 3pm at The Suit Direct Stadium.
Hartlepool United:
For the second successive game, the Spitfires will be playing a team new to the division this season, but this time they have come down from League Two.
Hartlepool currently occupy 10th position, with their loss away to Boreham Wood in the week meaning they failed to knock Eastleigh out the play-off places and move above them.
John Askey’s men have hit a rough patch of form, winning just once in their last seven and falling to defeat in their previous three home matches.
Therefore, the Pools will be looking to bounce back and there is no better place to do this is front of their home crowd.
Eastleigh:
The Spitfires come into this game off the back of a five-star performance mid-week, sweeping aside Ebbsfleet United 5-2 to move up into the play-off places.
A Paul McCallum hat-trick, as well as a goal from Scott Quigley and penalty from Chris Maguire, helped the Hampshire side claim back-to-back wins for the first time since February.
That is now seven goals in McCallum’s last five games for the club, but Richard Hill, who has been voted Vanarama manager of the week, will be without his in-form striker for this clash after he picked up his fifth yellow of the season.
A win over Hartlepool would see Eastleigh remain in the play-off places, with the chance of applying more pressure on the likes of Altrincham and Bromley above.
Previous Meetings:
These two sides have met eight times before but not since the 2020/21 season, with the Spitfires coming out on top on four occasions and Hartlepool only winning once.
Last time out, Eastleigh were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at The Suit Direct Stadium, a result that does not seem too bad on paper considering Hartlepool won promotion that year after beating Torquay in the play-off final.
However, the Spitfires have lost just once at the Silverlake this season and will be hoping to go one better than last time by claiming all three points.
Last five results:
13/03/21 – Hartlepool United 0-0 Eastleigh | VNL
16/02/21 – Eastleigh 2-1 Hartlepool United | VNL
07/01/20 – Hartlepool United 2-1 Eastleigh | VNL
28/09/19 – Eastleigh 1-1 Hartlepool United | VNL
30/03/19 – Eastleigh 3-2 Hartlepool United | VNL
Preview by Freddie Dorman
