Early start for Spitfires ahead of their mammoth Truro trek

By Wendy Gee -

EASTLEIGH manager Ian Baird admits he will be relieved when the longest away trip of the season is over.

The Spitfires are the first Blue Square South club to have make the 400-mile round trip to face ambitious Truro City.

Eastleigh left the club at 10:30am this morning and will not be back until the early hours.

Baird said: "It's our longest trip of the season by a long way and, to be fair, I'm glad to get it out the way.

"It's a pain having to go all that way for a midweek match but it's got to be done at some stage."

It is safe to say Truro are looking forward to tonight's match more than Eastleigh are the coach journey to the south west.

"This is an historic moment for Cornish football," said Truro's multi-millionaire chairman Keith Heaney in 'clarion call' on the club's website ahead of Eastleigh's visit.

Truro, winners of the FA Vase when they beat AFC Totton at Wembley four years ago, have made inexorable progress in recent years, winning five promotions in becoming the first Cornish club to reach the sixth level of English football.

Champions of the Southern Premier last season, they had an impressive 1-0 opening day win at Chelmsford City on Saturday.

"With this being their first home game in the Blue Square South, we're expecting a big crowd," said Baird.

"They've had a good go at it financially over the last few years.

"I've heard tales of new players arriving at their ground in a helicopter and they won't be paying someone like Barry Hayles peanuts.

"We're expecting a good test, especially as they won their first game at Chelmsford.

"But we had someone at that game and we watched them in pre-season so we know all about their strengths and weaknesses."

Baird has injury concerns over Danny Smith (dead leg) and Jamie Brown (knee), while new signing Ryan Tafazolli is still unavailable.