AS a striker for Vanarama National League promotion hopefuls Eastleigh, Ross Lafayette will always be under pressure to score.

But manager Richard Hill hopes the boost of opening his league account against Macclesfield last Saturday will lift some of the weight of expectation off the 29-year-old’s shoulders and provide the catalyst for many more goals to come, writes Wendy Gee.

Hill, who signed the former Welling targetman from Luton during the summer, said: “I’m pleased for Ross. He’s a forward whose job is to score goals and he’d been putting himself under a bit of pressure, similar to James Constable last season.

“Even in games leading up to last Saturday he’d had some good chances and he wants to do well.

“When he was at Welling he was their best player and it didn’t matter so much whether he scored or not, but it does matter when you play for Eastleigh.

“I don’t expect lads to score every week or every time they’re in front of goal, but if you’re in a position where you get two or three opportunities in a game, the pressure’s on you to take at least one – and that’s not just Ross, that’s every player.”

Had it not been for the heroics of Macc keeper Ritchie Branagan, Lafayette would have been taking the match ball home.

“Ross was unlucky. He was denied twice and I don’t think the 'keeper even knew how he’d saved them! But, give Ross his due, he kept going.

“It would have been easy for me to have left him off the pitch and played Yemi (Odubade) but, one thing’s for sure, Ross won’t score sat next to me on the bench. You have to go with your instinct sometimes. I’d had the benefit of seeing him in training and I had a feeling he might get a couple of chances.”

Eastleigh are up to fourth going into a hectic bank holiday weekend which kicks off with a Hampshire derby at 16th-placed Aldershot on Saturday before Monday’s home game against 12th-placed Torquay.

“It’s hard,” said Hill. “We had six pre-season games to bring us up to speed and, within three weeks, we’ll have played seven league games. It’s ludicrous, but that’s not just us, I’m talking on behalf of every National League club.”

The Spitfires have a clean bill of health to face a Shots side who ran out handsome 4-0 victors at Guiseley last weekend – their first win of the season.

New signing Richard Brodie, part of the Southport team trounced 4-0 by the Spitfires on the opening day, scored twice but then limped off with a groin strain. Midfielder Damon Lathrope is still out and captain Sam Hatton will undergo a late fitness test, but the Shots should welcome back on-loan Preston left-back Nick Anderton.

Hill said: “We’ve got a tough weekend. Aldershot had a very good result last week. I can’t see too many teams winning at Guiseley – let alone 4-0.”

There will be a minute’s silence before Saturday's game for the victims of the Shoreham air show tragedy.