Baird spellbound by Slabber magic

By Wendy Gee -

EASTLEIGH boss Ian Baird does not dish out compliments lightly.

So when he hailed Jamie Slabber's stunning show at Staines Town "the best centre forward's performance I've seen in six years of management at this level" it had to be pretty special.

The former Tottenham, Havant & Waterlooville and Woking frontman set Wheatsheaf Park alight with an incredible four goals in the opening 42 minutes to keep the Spitfires' play-off flame brightly burning in the Blue Square Bet South.

"Not only was it a perfect set of finishes - one right foot, one left foot, one with his head and one penalty - but the quality of his play was superb," said Baird following Eastleigh's 5-0 victory.

"Jamie has been much maligned over the years and both Havant and Woking supporters were derisory when we signed him, but if you look at his pedigree it's really good.

"I said he was in the last-chance saloon when he joined us, but this is the first season he's had free of serious injury.

"Also, he knows we all think a lot of him at Eastleigh and that makes a big difference to any player."

Slabber, 26, had missed the Spitfires' midweek defeat at Welling with a slight medial ligament problem.

And it wasn't until 15 minutes before Baird handed in Saturday's team sheet that the 6ft 2in former England under 18/19 was given the all-clear to play.

"I didn't want to aggravate the injury given the importance of tomorrow's home game against (second-placed) Farnborough; but we took a gamble and it paid off," said the boss.

Slabber is now on 20 league goals for the season and has already exceeded Baird's expectations.

"When he signed last summer I said I haven't brought you here as a 30-goal-a-season man. I said if he'd score me 15 I'd be happy because of the chances he creates for others.

"If you look at Jamie's montage of goals, they're all quality. I'd imagine he's got a lot of people looking at him."