TODD’S GOT A MAN ON FIRE!
EASTLEIGH manager Chris Todd was full of praise for new signing Mikael Mandron as the striker netted two goals in a very impressive Spitfires victory over League One side Northampton.
Mandron scored two quickfire second half goals adding to James Constable’s first half opener. Substitute Scott Wilson scored with his first touch to open up a 4-0 lead before Shaun McWilliams’ consolation for the visitors.
Todd said: “He’s a player! There’s no question about that, he’s a player and I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running when the season begins and he’ll be a handful for any National League defender.”
Todd added: “It was a very positive performance, regardless of the result, I was very happy with the way we played the game, the way we approached the game. It was a winning mentality.
“All pre-season we’ve been scoring goals and that’s what wins you games, we’re getting goals right through the team now, everybody’s chipping in.
“They all get on really well and you could see today in the performance, they really looked like a team. That was my half time team talk, ‘You’re really looking like a team’. I’m really pleased with that.”
Northampton made little impact until the half-hour mark when the lively Kenji Gorre forced a fine save from Spitfires keeper Ross Flitney and a follow up effort from striker Alex Revell was blocked by Ayo Obileye.
Constable’s breakthrough followed almost immediately afterwards. Jai Reason’s shot was parried straight into the path of the Eastleigh striker for the opening goal.
Mandron should have doubled the advantage after some fine interplay with Jake Howells – a summer arrival from Luton Town – but blazed over when he was one-on-one.
He made amends for that in the second half with two goals in the space of three minutes. Both strikes coming from corners and both goals typifying a very poor defensive effort from the Cobblers.
Eastleigh’s fourth came when Joe Partington sprinted passed a static David Buchanan to cross in for Wilson.
The hosts had introduced six substitutes by the hour mark and it was only in this period that Northampton exerted any real pressure. McWilliams’ far post header all the League Two champions had to show for the efforts.