Hampshire Sport

Scout Shaw misses Spitfires reunion

By Wendy Gee

11:04am Friday 27th January 2012

Eastleigh legend Wayne Shaw will miss out on a return to the Silverlake Stadium with Sutton United tomorrow.

While the Spitfires and the Us are battling for Blue Square Bet South points, the larger-than-life 41-year-old will be putting his weight behind Fleet Town’s survival mission in the Evo-Stik Southern One Central.

Although Shaw is very much a Sutton man these days having followed ex-Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell to Gander Green Lane, his dual role as goalkeeping coach and deputy to U’s No1 Kevin Scriven means he has spent the bulk of the season on the bench.

So when the call came to help out Fleet while Ryan Pryce was suspended, the big man jumped at the chance – and instantly kept a clean sheet in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at play-off chasing Biggleswade.

“I’ve always been in touch with Davo (Fleet manager Craig Davis) on Facebook and he asked if I would fill in for three games because Prycey had been sent off,” said Shaw.

“I’ve only played for Sutton this season in the Surrey Senior Cup, so it’s nice to get some games in and keep a clean sheet.

“Unfortunately it means missing out on Eastleigh, but I was down at the Silverlake watching the Salisbury game on Tuesday doing a bit of scouting for Dos.

“We needed to know a bit about them because they’re bringing in new players every week!”

Totton-based Shaw, who played for the Spitfires during their early Conference South days, is amazed by the transformation of the Eastleigh squad since the U’s beat them 2-0 in Surrey in September.

New club owners Bridle Insurance have given Eastleigh boss Ian Baird the go-ahead to bring in a host of big-money new signings in pursuit of League football, leaving their former ’keeper gob-smacked.

“It’s amazing in the present financial climate that Eastleigh are paying what they are,” he said. “It’s transition time for them and I just hope it works out.

“It’ll always be difficult though because they’re going to struggle with crowds.

“They had 900 there against Salisbury, but really you should be talking 1,500-2,000 for a local derby.”

Asked what he had gleaned from his scouting mission, Shaw said: “We already knew that if you let Damian Scannell run at you, he’ll cause damage and their new signing Daryl McMahon is decent. He’s got a good left peg and a good pedigree.

“I also like the lad they’ve signed from Bournemouth (Mitchell Nelson) at right-back.

“He’s very athletic, getting up and down, but he can lose a bit of discipline when he’s not under pressure and give the ball away.

“Bairdy’s sides are always well organised, so we know what to expect.”

With defender Karim El Salahi having hung up his boots to concentrate on school teaching and winger Tony Taggart out with a broken finger, Sutton won’t have their usual contingent of ex-Spitfires on show.

But one man Eastleigh need to beware of is their former midfield favourite Anthony Riviere, who captained Sutton and scored in last Saturday’s 1-1 result at Maidenhead – the fifth-placed U’s third straight BSB South draw.

“Rivs is superb,” said Shaw. “He missed a couple of games injured, but he’s come straight back in and scored.

“Eastleigh miss someone like him with the work he puts in getting around the pitch and breaking things up.

“People said he was finished, but he’s got the bit between his teeth again. He’s back to the Rivs of old.”

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