Hartlepool United return to Victoria Park on Friday night looking to produce an immediate response when they face Eastleigh in the Enterprise National League.
Pools began the campaign with successive victories and clean sheets against Barrow and Aldershot Town before suffering their first defeat of the season at Sutton United last weekend.
Eastleigh have also collected six points from their opening three fixtures, winning twice at home either side of a narrow defeat at Kidderminster Harriers.
Pools begin the weekend fifth in the early standings, with the Spitfires eighth ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off.
Pools Return to Victoria Park
Lee Clark’s side made an encouraging start to the season with an assured 2-0 victory over Barrow.
Will Harris opened the scoring with an excellent half-volley before Jack Nolan marked his competitive debut by finding the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
A different test followed at Aldershot, where Pools remained patient and disciplined before substitute Corey McKeown scored the only goal of the game ten minutes after his introduction.
Those performances demonstrated the different qualities within Clark’s rebuilt squad. Pools played with aggression and attacking intent against Barrow before showing the resilience required to protect a narrow lead at the EBB Stadium.
The standards established during those opening victories were not maintained at Sutton.
First-half goals from Temi Babalola and Emmanuel Osadebe put the hosts in control before McKeown reduced the deficit with his second goal in successive games.
Pools were unable to find an equaliser after the interval, with Clark admitting afterwards that his side had lacked their usual intensity without the ball and quality in possession.
The Sutton defeat provided the first setback for a significantly rebuilt squad. Friday offers an early opportunity to show how quickly the group can respond.
The Opposition
Eastleigh finished 17th in the National League last season, collecting 50 points from their 46 fixtures.
Matt Gray was appointed First Team Manager in May and oversaw considerable change during his first summer at the Silverlake Stadium, adding 13 players to the squad.
The Spitfires opened the season with a 2-1 home victory over Gateshead. Harry Sidwell headed Gray’s side in front before Josh Lundstram doubled the advantage shortly after half-time.
Their first away fixture proved more difficult. Kidderminster created the better opportunities at Aggborough and secured a 1-0 victory through substitute Levi Amantchi, although Aaron Blair went close to an equaliser in stoppage time.
Eastleigh responded by defeating Scunthorpe United 3-2 last weekend. Sidwell opened the scoring from distance before Blair restored Eastleigh’s lead following Alfie Beestin’s equaliser. Scunthorpe drew level for a second time through James Gale, but Lundstram converted Max Dickov’s low delivery two minutes later to score the winner.
The result demonstrated Eastleigh’s ability to respond during difficult moments. They regained the lead twice and withstood late pressure to maintain their perfect home record.
Eastleigh’s Threat
Gray’s side have scored five goals during their opening three fixtures, with four coming from midfield.
Sidwell and Lundstram have each scored twice, regularly supporting the attack with forward runs from central areas.
Experienced forward Oli Hawkins provides Eastleigh with a physical focal point. His strength and aerial ability allow the Spitfires to play forward quickly while creating space for Blair and the midfield runners around him.
Hawkins was influential against Scunthorpe, occupying defenders, providing the flick-on that released Blair for a first-half opportunity and helping his team defend their lead during the closing stages.
Pools will need to compete for the first contact and react quickly to the second ball. They must also track Sidwell and Lundstram when the Eastleigh midfield advances to support the attack.
There should be opportunities at the other end. Eastleigh have conceded in all three league games, with Gateshead scoring during added time, Kidderminster creating several clear openings and Scunthorpe finding the net twice at the Silverlake Stadium.
Pools will look to test that defence through the intensity of their press and greater precision in the final third.
Recent Meetings
Pools completed a league double over Eastleigh last season without conceding a goal.
Cameron John and Nathan Sheron struck four minutes apart during the second half to secure a 2-0 victory at the Silverlake Stadium in November.John drove into the penalty area and finished across Nick Townsend before Sheron found the corner with a powerful strike from outside the box.
The return fixture at Victoria Park was decided by Matty Daly’s 30th-minute goal. Jamie Miley’s low delivery was parried by Townsend, allowing Daly to convert the rebound and secure a 1-0 victory for Pools.
The View from Lee Clark
“Last Saturday was not us. We did not reach the standards we had set during our opening victories, either with our pressing or our quality in possession.
“You are going to experience setbacks during a season. What matters is how you respond, and the reaction from the players this week has been exactly what I wanted.
“Eastleigh have also started the season strongly and will provide a difficult examination. We must compete for every ball, play without fear and show our identity both in possession and through our pressing.
“The atmosphere against Barrow gave the players a massive lift. We need that same energy again tonight.”
Eastleigh Fact File
Full name: Eastleigh Football Club
Nickname: The Spitfires
Founded: 1946
Ground: Silverlake Stadium
First Team Manager: Matt Gray
2025/26 league finish: 17th
Current position: Eighth
League record: Played three, won two, lost one
Last league result: Eastleigh 3-2 Scunthorpe United
The Manager: Matt Gray
Gray returned to Eastleigh in May 2026, having previously served as the club’s assistant manager between 2007 and 2011.
He later held coaching positions with Aldershot Town and Crawley Town before joining Sutton United in 2018.
Gray took permanent charge at Sutton ahead of the 2019/20 season and led the club to the National League title two years later, securing promotion to the Football League for the first time in its history.
Sutton finished eighth during their first League Two campaign, missing the play-offs by one point, and also reached the EFL Trophy final at Wembley.
Gray left Sutton in November 2023 and later had a brief spell with Eastbourne Borough before returning to the Silverlake Stadium alongside his long-standing assistant, Jason Goodliffe.
One to Watch: Josh Lundstram
Lundstram has scored twice during Eastleigh’s opening three league games.
The midfielder found the bottom corner to double his side’s lead against Gateshead before making a well-timed run into the penalty area to score the winner against Scunthorpe.
His energy and ability to arrive in advanced positions have made him an important part of Gray’s team during the opening weeks of the season.
Pools will need to remain alert to those forward runs while limiting his influence in central areas.
Did You Know?
Eastleigh were formed as Swaythling Athletic in 1946 and adopted their current name in 1980. The Spitfires reached the National League for the first time after winning the Conference South title in 2014 and have remained at the fifth level ever since.
