EASTLEIGH underlined their promotion ambitions at the weekend with a startling 4-1 away win at the Blue Square South's most in-form side Fisher Athletic.
Ian Baird's men jumped up to fourth place with their best away performance since he joined the club last October.
Baird's detailed preparation for the game was disrupted by the late withdrawal of player/co-assistant manager David Hughes with back trouble.
"We did our homework on Fisher," said Baird. "We had them watched last Saturday and then Dos (co-assistant boss Paul Doswell) and Matt Gray went and saw them at Weston-super-Mare on Monday.
"But it looked like our preparation had fallen apart by 12 o'clock when David Hughes had to pull out."
The fact that Eastleigh's plans did not collapse was due in no small part to a magnificent comeback by central defender Chris Collins in a reshuffled side.
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After months dogged by injury, Collins was last month transfer-listed by Baird who had been deprived of his services ever since arriving.
"Chris hadn't played for nine months, but he's come in and been outstanding," said Baird.
"There's no doubt he's got ability but it was getting him onto the field of play that was the problem."
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