Moore previews North Ferriby match

Ronnie Moore looks ahead to this Saturday's (3rd) home game against North Ferriby. 

The Spitfires are seeking a third consecutive win under the new manager following on from successive wins over Solihull Moors and Bromley. 

Despite scoring seven in the past two games (including five on Bank Holiday Monday at Bromley) and keeping three successive clean sheets - Moore insists there is room for improvement. He has also spoken about the size of his squad and discusses the need to possibly move a few players on.

“You’ve always got to be looking to improve no matter what.

“But we’ve still got 27 players here, so we’re going to have to shift one or two, whether that’s on loan or permanent.”

Eastleigh have an abundance of wealth in the centre back position with Ryan Cresswell, Reda Johnson, Connor Essam, Adam Dugdale and Ayo Obileye all vying for places.

Regarding the multitude of central defender options, Moore said: “I can’t understand why a team needs five centre-halves, especially when we play with a back four!”

"It’s difficult because we’ve got Cress and Reda – and you won’t get two better centre-halves at this level. They could do it in League Two.

“We’ve got too many, it’s as simple as that. We need to get some in and some out.”

At right back,  Connor Essam has filled in admirably whilst Joe Partington has been on the sidelines. Partington though made a return off the bench in the 5-0 rout at Bromley and now Moore has a decision to make. Does he continue with Essam who has helped the team to seven points out of a possible nine, and three clean sheets from the past three games? Or does Partington come straight back in to the side now that he has regained fitness? 

“I’ve got to go with my gut feeling,” Moore said regarding the right back position.

Ryan Cresswell has led the team as captain in the absence of Partington recently, and Moore says he has another big decision to make. 

“The captaincy’s another big decision, but they’re all captains once they get over that white line. Whatever I decide, I don’t want anyone tripping over their bottom lip as they’re coming out to play!”

Speaking about North Ferriby, the visitors to the Silverlake Stadium this weekend, Moore said: “They’ve done well. They’ve got seven points and they lost with the last kick of the game (1-0 at home to Barrow) on Monday."

North Ferriby are a newly promoted side to the Vanarama National and are yet to register a point away from home. Moore has warned against complacency.

“We’ve got two home games coming up and we must make sure we don’t waste what we’ve done. The attitude’s got to be right. Just because we’ve had two wins, we don’t want them thinking they’ve become England players!

“We’re not good enough to turn the tap on hot and cold, we’ve got to be up and at it every game and play at a pace where teams can't live with us."

It's also Non League Day this Saturday. With no Premier League or Championship fixtures, fans are encouraged to come and support Non League and grass roots football. Eastleigh have an offer, where if you are a season ticket holder elsewhere, fans are able to take advantage of a 1/2 price deal.

Moore has called out to Southampton fans to come along and support Eastleigh on Non League Day: “This Non-League's not bad. Eastleigh's not far from St Mary’s, so any Southampton fans with nothing to do should come and give it a go.”

Ronnie set to address Eastleigh's surfeit of centre-halves

NEW boss Ronnie Moore has indicated that he will be moving some players on before bringing in any additional signings at Eastleigh. Although there is no one immediately in the pipeline, Moore - looking for three wins out three at home to North Ferriby United on Saturday (3pm) - said: "You've always got to be looking to improve no matter what.