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The first ever, (and indeed at the date of writing the only) game against Eastleigh came 5 matches into the return to the National League. The Spitfires were the first of 6 new teams that we were to meet in the curtailed season, (Boreham Wood; Bromley; Dorking; Dover and Sutton United were the other). It had been an up and down start to the campaign. An opening day home defeat at the hands of Maidenhead had been followed by draws at both Notts County and Yeovil. The first win of the season came against Barrow, 4 days prior to the Eastleigh encounter. That had been a great game, County came out on top 3-2 and it was the first time that Festus Arthur appeared, other than in Cheshire Cup matches. He was to move to Hull at the end of the season, having impressed one and all at EP as somebody with both great talent and immense promise.

Eastleigh had fallen in the play-offs to Salford the previous May after a valiant performance I watched on TV which ended up in a penalty shoot out, so clearly were not a side to be taken lightly. Their start to the season had been up and down, with a win; a draw and two defeats. It proved to be a reasonably comfortable three points as things transpired. Adam Thomas gave County the lead on the hour mark, and the margin of victory was doubled 7 minutes from time when a thunderous strike from Elliot Osborne from all of 30 yards gave the Eastleigh keeper no chance.

Eastleigh were unable to repeat their form of the previous season, and when 2019/20 drew to a premature end they stood in 16th place, (average 1.24 points per game). County were considerable better off, and despite standing 7th after a victory at Maidenhead were pushed out of the play-offs as Barnet’s PPG was marginally better.

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Sat	17/08/19	h	Edgeley Park	Vanarama National League (Tier 5)	W	2	0	3,869

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