Allen previews FA Trophy tie at Harlow

Martin Allen will look to involve a number of youth players for Eastleigh's FA Trophy fixture away at Harlow Town in the first round on Saturday.

Midfielder Jason Taylor is out for potentially two months with a hip problem while Alefe Santos has ended his short loan spell with Eastleigh to return to Derby County.

Goalkeeper Ryan Clarke is still out with an elbow injury and another big blow for the new Spitfires boss is losing skipper Ryan Cresswell for the season following a knee operation.

A second string Eastleigh side lost 3-1 in the Hampshire Senior Cup against Gosport Borough on Tuesday night.

Reflecting on the game, Allen commented: “With the team being so young, it got difficult for them to physically compete as the game progressed, but there are certainly ones to work with in the future.

“It’s a bit of a fine balancing act at the moment with some of the younger players having to be fast-forwarded because of injuries and players being cup-tied.

“Bondz N’Gala and Ross Stearn will both play at Harlow, Scott Brown will play in goal and we’ll have some younger players making up the team.

“Stearn and N’Gala are both cup-tied for Tuesday (the FA Cup second round replay at Halifax) which means we’re down to 15 fit and available players for that one.”

Ryan Huddart will likely play in goal against Halifax in the FA Cup replay as fellow keeper Scott Brown, on-loan from Wycombe, is unavailable for selection due to his parent club still being in the competition.

“It’s par for the job. I don’t think there’s a squad in the country that’s got all their players fit and available.

“We’ll take each game as it comes.”

Speaking about Eastleigh's FA Trophy opponents Harlow, Allen said: “I know their owner and some of their players, they’re a good side. I watched them in the Essex Senior Cup final three years ago.

“As always, it’s going to be a hard game. We’ll give it our best shot because we want to go through.”