Spitfires depleted for replay

By Wendy Gee -

EASTLEIGH must make do without two – and possibly three – key players for tonight’s FA Trophy first round replay at Paul Doswell’s Sutton United.

The sickness that ruled skipper Tom Jordan (pictured) out of Saturday’s 1-1 Silverlake Stadium draw has been confirmed as a viral infection that means the towering defender is highly unlikely to travel.

To make matters worse, it looks as if left-back Luke Byles has gone down with the same virus and he, too, could miss the trip to Gander Green Lane (7.45pm).

The most depressing news of all, however, is that Richard Gillespie broke a hand on Saturday, sidelining him for six weeks. 

It rules the lively frontrunner out of the entire festive programme which will be pivotal in Eastleigh's push for the Blue Square Bet South play-offs.

The Spitfires have had wretched luck with injuries ever since they joined the Conference South.

In the old pre-recession days when tonight's opposing manager Doswell was in charge, they invariably found the cash to draft in reinforcements.

But, like most clubs, they have had to tighten their belts during the economic downturn and Baird is steeling himself to soldier on with just two strikers - Jamie Slabber and Brett Williams, who returns from a one-match ban tonight.

Their other frontrunner, Jamie Brown, has been suspended by the club for a breach of club discipline and his future is due to be discussed this week.

"Gilly's our top scorer and he's very important to us," said Baird.

"It would be great to get someone in to replace him, but I'm led to believe there's no chance of that.

"Gilly's injury is just another blow we have to deal with.

"It happened last year and the year before. There are big expectations here, but when we made the play-offs (in 2008/09) we were the only club in the top-six that didn't have the money to go out and strengthen.

"Dos (Doswell) usually managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat, but that's where Eastleigh are different to how they used to be.

"We've also got Warren Goodhind (calf) struggling for tonight, so we're up against it at the minute."

Baird, though still believes Eastleigh can beat Doswell's Ryman Premier leaders and land a home tie against BSB North outfit Worcester City on January 15.

The Spitfires were good value for Saturday's draw even though it took until the 88th minute for Tony Taggart to wipe out Craig Dundas' early opener for the Us.

"If we go there with the right attitude, I'm optimistic we can win," said Baird. "A home tie in the next round sounds good, but we've got a big hurdle to get over first."

Having lost just once at home all season - a shock FA Cup exit against Wessex strugglers Alton Town - Sutton are strong on their own patch.

"On Saturday I though Eastleigh were slight favourites, but it's more of an even game now," said Doswell, qho has Simon Downer (groin), Dundas (sickness), Kennedy Adjei (groin) and ex-Spitfire Karim El-Salahi (calf) battling to be fit.