Youth pays dividends for Eastleigh

By Wendy Gee - 

DANNY Smith’s 39th-minute winner at Welling United on Saturday is a contender for Eastleigh’s goal-of-the-season.

Statistically it had much to recommend it, completing a notable season’s double for the Spitfires against a Wings side already assured of a place in the Blue Square Bet South play-offs.

It was the first goal Welling had conceded in over five games and 535 minutes and ruined the league’s last remaining unbeaten home record.

But what really delighted Eastleigh boss Ian Baird was that victory was achieved with three teenagers in the starting line-up and that Smith’s winner rounded off a sweet 16-pass move.

“We scored a very good goal considering we don’t play any football!” said Baird, tongue firmly in cheek. “Danny’s arrived late in the box to meet Mitchell Nelson’s cross and tucked it into the middle.

“We had a young side out, including Will Aimson and Sam Wilson, both 17, and we beat a Welling side who had come off the back of five clean sheets.

"Tactically we did a job and the future looks to be in good hands.”

Eastleigh’s third teenager, 19-year-old Saints loan ’keeper Jack Dovey, did well to tip over Loick Pires’s early shot before Scott Kinch headed wide for the Wings.

But, with Daryl McMahon pulling the midfield strings for the Spitfires, the visitors got their goal and, apart from a blistering shot from Pires on the hour, were rarely threatened after the break.

Aimson played solidly in a defensive three, shielded by sweeper Andy Forbes, and frontman Wilson had a lively first half before being forced off with hamstring trouble and replaced by the experienced Lee Peacock.

“We also had three 22-year- olds, Mitchell Nelson, Phil Appiah and Michael Green, playing – and I’m not supposed to like youngsters!” Baird added.