THREE points, a man-of-the-match debut from new signing Jamie Turley and the chance to meet one of his all-time footballing heroes.

What more could Eastleigh boss Richard Hill have asked for on the day he turned 51?

No wonder the birthday boy was all smiles after Stuart Fleetwood’s first goal of the campaign had edged the Spitfires a 1-0 victory over an in-form Braintree Town side managed by ex-West Ham midfielder Alan Devonshire.

“On a personal note, it was an absolute pleasure to meet Alan Devonshire. I used to watch him playing for West Ham and was mesmerised by him. I was actually a bit in awe meeting him,” Hill confessed.

“When he played he worked his socks off and they say a team emulates its manager and Braintree certainly do. They’re a hard-working team who try to put you under pressure and, don’t forget, they came here today having won five of their last six.

“We had to throw bodies behind the ball and get blocks in today but, like I said to the lads, it’s probably done them good to see they can win a game 1-0 rather than having to score two or three to get a point.”

Having netted seven goals and conceded just as many in the three draws leading up to Saturday’s game, it was a source of satisfaction for Hill to register a third clean sheet of the campaign.

Turley’s aerial presence and positional know-how played a part and Hill was quick to defend himself and the 24-year-old England C defender after snatching him from under the noses of Bristol Rovers, where he been training since August on his way back from a broken arm.

Rovers’ reportedly had Turley booked in for a CT scan last Friday after an X-ray on his arm had proved inconclusive. But when manager Darrell Clarke got off the training ground on Thursday, he had a text from Turley’s agent saying he had signed for Eastleigh.

Clarke was not best pleased, but Hill, below, said: “Every manager does things differently, but Jamie had been at Bristol Rovers since August and, personally, I would not have needed six weeks to decide if I wanted him or not.

“You just had to see his performance today. Jamie did great and don’t forget he was part of a rock-solid back four who worked hard and got blocks in. (Skipper) Paul Reid has had to have a couple of stitches under the eye and you don’t get that without putting your head in where it hurts.

“I’d been chasing Jamie since May and I know exactly what’s gone on. Had he been playing the two clubs off, one against the other, to improve his financial situation, it wouldn’t have been morally right to sign him, but that wasn’t the case.”

With Michael Green ruled out by possible glandular fever, Hill’s decision to release Matt Fry on Thursday might have backfired.

But Dan Spence deputised capably and Turley’s presence in the back four – initially at right-back and then alongside the rugged Reid at centre-back – added a steeliness that Braintree found impossible to break down.

Dan Sparkes went close for the visitors on 13 minutes, flashing a header just past the post, but it was Eastleigh who made the breakthrough with 35 minutes gone.

Daily Echo:

Fleetwood had already had one deft flick cleared by Alan Massey, but made no mistake with a glancing header from Will Evans’ superb delivery from the right.

Evans who, by then, had switched places with Turley, proved an excellent wide outlet for Eastleigh and was unlucky not to score himself with a strong run and bullet shot which stung the hands of goalkeeper Nick Hamann.

Braintree had their chances – notably when Sparkes was denied by keeper Ross Flitney’s feet shortly after Fleetwood’s goal - but it was the Spitfires who went closest to scoring again late on when substitute Craig McAllister’s header was cleared off the line by Mitch Brundle.

Eighth-placed Eastleigh are unbeaten in six home games since promotion to the Vanarama Conference with a tasty all-ticket match against Bristol Rovers to come tomorrow week. Only a couple of hundred tickets remain, available from the club (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or by calling the ticket office on 023 8061 3361.

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Dan Spence, Jamie Collins (Craig Stanley, 66), James Constable, Jai Reason, Jack Midson (Craig McAllister, 71), Stuart Fleetwood, Ben Strevens, Will Evans, Paul Reid, Jamie Turley. Subs (not used): Chris Todd, Yemi Odubade, Josh Helm.

Referee: Craig Hicks (Sutton) Attendance: 1,131

  • Aldershot Town, beaten 3-1 by Braintree in midweek, had ex-Eastleigh striker Brett Williams to thank for getting them back to winning ways. He struck in the 31st minute with a half-volley on the turn to secure the Shots a 1-0 home win over Lincoln.