Thurrock preview - Daily Echo

By Wendy Gee -

Eastleigh will be praying that Spitfires old boy Matt Bodkin does not come back to haunt them tomorrow as they go in search of their first Saturday win of the season at Thurrock.

Unbeaten Thurrock have had a useful start to the campaign, banking eight out of 12 points – two more than Eastleigh, who have suffered consecutive Saturday defeats against Braintree and St Albans.

The Spitfires management team watched the Essex side draw 1-1 at Lewes on Wednesday night and team boss Ian Baird observed: “Thurrock are like any other side who start the season well – there’s an air confidence about them.

“They carry a lot of threats, particularly in the two wide positions.

“Matt Bodkin, who was with us last season (on loan from Grays Athletic), is a danger.

“When he was at Eastleigh he showed good ability, but he wasn’t starting for us and he decided to go back to Grays.

“I would like to have kept him because he did okay, but that’s water under the bridge now. We’ve got Tony Taggart – albeit that he can’t play tomorrow – and Shaun McAuley out wide and I think they’re better than Matt.”

Taggart begins a three-match suspension tomorrow – the legacy of his sending off against Braintree on the opening day.

But, fortunately for Baird, he has the luxury of having every other player available in a rare clean bill of health.

Frontman Jamie Brown and midfielder Anthony Riviere came safely through their comebacks on Tuesday, playing their part in a morale-boosting 6-1 battering of Bromley at the Silverlake.