Familiar foe back at West Leigh Park
The Hawks bring the curtain down on their disappointing Blue Square South campaign with a local derby against play-off bound Eastleigh at West Leigh Park (3pm).
Ex-Hawks boss Ian Baird brings his Spitfires to face his old club, insisting he will field his strongest available line-up.
'This is a big game for us because we want to make sure we finish in second place,' said Baird.
'Whoever finishes second will host the final if they win through.
'We are just disappointed we are not going into the game with a chance of taking the title after throwing it away at Bognor.'
The home side began the season themselves with ambitions of reaching the play-offs, but a lack of consistency instead saw them briefly flirt with relegation.
A recent improvement saw the Hawks to safety but manager Shaun Gale is the first to admit his squad underachieved in the league.
'We have been disappointing in the league this season but it is not something that I am going to dwell on,' said Gale.
'My priority is to make sure that come the start of next season it doesn't happen again and I am adamant it won't.
'I can still take a number of positives from the season.
'The football club earned a decent amount of money from a live television appearance in the FA Cup against Brentford and a good run in the FA Trophy.
'It is important for us to head into the summer on a positive note so this is a game we are determined to win.
'I was disappointed with our second-half display in the 1-0 defeat at Bishop's Stortford last week and for the first time this season I felt I could accuse some of the players of going through the motions.
'It is important to us that we don't end the season in the same fashion.
'I like to think that any side I put out will be competitive and there is no reason why that shouldn't be the case this weekend.
'We owe it to our loyal set of fans who have backed us home and away all season.'
Central defender Gary Elphick trained in the week and could return to the squad following rib muscle problems, while goalkeeper Kevin Scriven has recovered from a swollen knee.
But young keeper Nathan Ashmore did well last weekend and Scriven may have to be happy with a place on the substitutes' bench.
'It is vital we don't end the season with a repeat of last week's second half at Bishop's Stortford,' said Gale.
'That was unacceptable and the players know it.
'I will expect us to approach the game in a professional manner and it is one we want to win.'
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
