Eastleigh travelled to Boreham Wood as 4/1 favourites for the Blue Square Bet South title – and came home licking their wounds after a painful 3-0 defeat.

After splashing out thousands this summer in pursuit of promotion, the Spitfires were once again guilty of rank bad defending on the ground where they were last season humbled 6-1.

After a decent start, Eastleigh almost got their reward on 31 minutes when Michael Green drove in a low, hard free kick which thudded against Wood keeper James Russell’s left-hand post.

Instead it was the home side who made the all-important break through just three minutes later – thanks to a former Eastleigh player.

Graeme Montgomery curled a left- foot shot past Spitfires keeper Jack Dovey after some skilful play from Omer Riza.

Wood doubled their advantage with a quality goal on 52 minutes when Ihih Effiong jinked past three defend¬ ers before beating Dovey.

Effiong then turned creator on 66 minutes, rolling the ball across goal for the unmarked Riza to find the net from three yards. Giving his verdict on the game, Eastleigh boss Ian Baird said: “I hate Boreham Wood!

“For 30 minutes we were the better side, but we conceded an horrendous goal straight after Michael Green had hit the post and then let in another just after half-time.

“Goals change games and it gives the other side the ascendancy.

“Boreham Wood were bang up for it and, as I said to the lads afterwards, we’ve got to be able to deal with the fact that every side we play against will not need to do a team talk.

“I made that message clear from the very start of pre-season and, unfortu¬ nately, we didn’t deal with it very well today.

"We didn’t defend well as a team and we conceded three horrendous goals. It doesn’t help when a couple of opposition players have been trying to come to Eastleigh all summer, so that made them doubly up for it.

“It’s massively disappointing.

“The microscope’s on us and everyone will want to criticise us. But as long as we stick together and deal with the disappointment of defeat, we will be okay.”

Eastleigh’s squad included ex- Saint Callum McNish, brought in for an initial one-month period from Braintree Town to cover for Mark Hughes’s injury.

The 20-year-old central midfielder started his career with Watford before making his Saints debut in April 2010. He was released from St Mary’s in May 2011 and signed for Exeter City before joining Braintree this summer.

Ex-Barnet skipper Hughes is now one of two Eastleigh players to have broken a bone in the foot. Experienced striker Lee Peacock has broken a small bone just below the big toe, but it is not believed to be as serious as Hughes’ injury which could keep the midfielder out for eight weeks. 

Eastleigh tomorrow (7.45pm) entertain Basingstoke Town, who saw off Paul Doswell ’s Sutton United 2-1 on Saturday courtesy of ex-Spitfire Jordace Holder-Spooner and Tim Sills.