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This weeks televised National League match sees 12th placed Eastleigh host second place Bromley at Silverlake Stadium.
After an inconsistent start to the season, riddled with defensive fragility, Eastleigh and Richard Hill decided to part ways. His replacement was 47-year-old Southampton legend Kelvin Davies. It was a major risk to appoint a manager with no previous permanent experience, but Davies enjoyed a stellar opener, beating Oxford City 2-5 away from home.
Before this, the Spitfires had gone 11 games without a win, with their last taste of victory coming on the 23rd December at home to Dorking. Amazingly, Eastleigh are 24 games in all competitions without a clean sheet, last forcing a blank in October against lowly National League South side Dover FC.
With 69 goals conceded in the National League, Eastleigh have the second worst defensive record, with only bottom club Oxford City conceding more. However, the Spitfires have also scored 58 goals, with Paul McCallum scoring 25 of these - placing him top of the goalscoring charts. Their games have averaged 3.73 goals in them.
Bromley currently sit second and are currently taking the crown of the 'best of the rest' in the National League, as Chesterfield are running away with the league title.
Andy Woodman's side are 10 points clear of the chasing pack in the playoffs and will be hoping to consolidate their place in the promotion playoffs.
The Ravens' home form has been a key reason for this, with only Chesterfields 47 points more than Bromley's 37 at Hayes Lane. Their away form is still to be commended though, with Woodman's side picking up 25 points from 16 on their travels.
Only FC Halifax (39) have conceded fewer goals than Bromley's 40, with Grant Smith shining in his first season at the club. The reverse fixture saw Bromley run out 1-0 winners.
Last season was a strong season for Eastleigh, finishing 9th, four points off the playoffs. The Spitfires have already beaten last seasons tally of 56 goals and conceded more than last seasons 57.
Their home form was a big reason for this, with only record-breaking Wrexham and Notts County accumulating more home points. It was their away form that was a worry, picking up just 20 on their travels.
Last seasons games saw Bromley win 2-1 and then hold out for a 0-0 stalemate in Hampshire.
The Ravens came 7th last season, finishing inside the playoffs by just two points. They were rewarded with a playoff quarter-final trip to fourth place Woking, mounting a second half comeback to emerge 2-1 victors.
A trip to Chesterfield followed, and what followed was a classic. Bromley went into half time 1-0 up, before a Deji Elerewe own goal levelled the scores. The youngsters misery was confounded 18 minutes later as he was sent off. Darren Oldaker thought he had won it four minutes later, but Michael Cheek delivered a dramatic equaliser in the ninth minute of added time.
Bromley however failed to hold on, with Liam Mandeville scoring the decider in extra time.
Interestingly, Bromley only accumulated three less points on their travels than at home last season.
Paul McCallum is undoubtley the hosts key player, with the 30-year-old boasting 25 goals already this season, including a brace in midweeks 2-5 victory over Oxford City.
McCallum is a renowned goalscorer at this level having scored 34 goals across two full seasons for Dagenham & Redbridge and 27 goals in his last season for Eastleigh in 2019.
Despite having the second best defensive record in the league, it could be argued that Bromley's star man is striker Michael Cheek. The 32-year-old is now in his fifth season for the South-East outfit, having scored 13, 23 ,17, 17 league goals in previous seasons.
Cheek is now on 18 goals having scored five in his last three, including a hat-trick in the 4-3 victory over runaway leaders Chesterfield.
Paul McCallum and Michael Cheek to score @ 5.50
1-2 Bromley @ 8.50
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