ANDREW Boyce is like a last-man standing in the Eastleigh defence, after his regular starters Joe Partington, Pierce Bird, Joe Tomlinson and Silverlake legend Michael Green have all moved on to new clubs.

However, Ben Strevens and the Spitfires acted well to replace all of them and plug the gaps before the National League season kicked off.

Sadly it is yet to show on the pitch, with two defeats from two.

In their place, former star right-back Josh Hare re-joined the club from Bristol Rovers along with fellow Gas teammate Michael Kelly on the other side, while Tom Broadbent of Swindon and loanees Joe Low and Christian Maghoma populate the centre-back options.

There has been big changes and additions throughout the whole squad, but defence is certainly the most unknown for Strevens with only 25 per cent of his tried and tested formula remaining.

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But Boyce isn’t concerned and insists he’s looking forward to the campaign alongside new partners, telling the Daily Echo: “I am excited, yeah.

“Birdy went to King’s Lynn and I thought me and him had a really good partnership last season, Parts, Joe (Tomlinson), (Michael) Greener – it’s literally just me left.

“Big Tom Broadbent had a little bit of a niggly knee during pre-season but he’s coming back now. And Mags and Lowey are big lads, they’ve got quality, good pedigree, I’m not worried.

Daily Echo: Eastleigh FC coaching staff (Pic: Tom Mulholland)Eastleigh FC coaching staff (Pic: Tom Mulholland)

“It’d be nice to keep racking them clean sheets up again like we did last season.”

The Spitfires achieved club-record numbers of shutouts in the 2020-21 National League campaign, partly thanks to in-form goalkeeper Joe McDonnell, who signed a new two-year deal to stay with the Spitfires.

They’ll be looking for improvement from within, as well as hoping for success from the new boys.

Winger Ryan Hill, 23, has come back from the off-season looking stronger, fitter and determined to take on what will be a key campaign in the former Stoke academy man’s career.

Boyce agrees with that assessment, adding: “I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there with Hilly, I think he’s come back flying, in training as well and in the games.

“The game against Brentford (in pre-season) he came on for 25-30 minutes and he run them ragged to be honest.

“I pulled him aside the other day in fact to tell he’s been looking brilliant.

“So he’ll definitely be in contention I’d have thought.”