The 2025/26 Enterprise National League season continues on Saturday 21st February 2026. Following a run of three matches unbeaten, the Spitfires travel to the Mizuma Mobile Stadium to take on relegation-stricken Morecambe. Kick-off is at 3pm.
Scott Bartlett has urged his side to take their positive form into the clash against Morecambe and the future games. Eastleigh come into the tie as favourites after extending their unbeaten run to three after a draw against 4th place Boreham Wood.
Their opponents Morecambe, are without a win in their last ten matches. During this tough period the Shrimps opted to part ways with Ashvir Singh Johal. Jim Bentley took over on the 7th of February and walked out of the tunnel at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium against Truro for the first time in seven years.
The clash with the Tinners ended in a 2–1 defeat, a result that lifted Truro above Morecambe in the table and pushed the Shrimps down to 23rd. A draw against Tamworth F.C. offered some encouragement, but that was followed four days later by their joint-second heaviest defeat of the campaign, as Southend United F.C. ran out 5–1 winners.
Morecambe:
The Shrimps have struggled immensely this season, and in recent weeks that struggle in form has been no different. The Lancashire side have failed to register a win since they defeated Brackley Town 2–0 the week before Christmas.
Jim Bentley’s side are set for a fight for their National League survival as the season continues, with the Shrimps sitting in 23rd position on 23 points after 32 games, with the gap to safety currently 11 points.
At the Mizuma Mobile Stadium this season, the Lancashire side have won just three matches, scoring eight goals in the process. Despite this, the Shrimps have the worst defensive record in the league, having shipped 70 goals to date.
Eastleigh:
The Spitfires’ turn in form in recent weeks has seen them unbeaten in their last three matches and pick up five points from a possible nine across these fixtures. Saturday’s trip to Lancashire will be another opportunity to extend this run.
Scott Bartlett’s side currently sit 17th in the National League on 36 points after 32 matches, thanks to nine wins and nine draws. The gap to the relegation zone sits at six points, whilst the side are 15 points adrift of the play-off spots.
Away from the Silverlake this season, the Spitfires have struggled, picking up just 19 points from a possible 48, thanks to five wins and four draws. Saturday afternoon’s trip to Lancashire will be another opportunity to improve on this record.
Bartlett’s Pre-Match thoughts:
Bartlett: “We’ve got a little bit of momentum in the last three or four games. We’ve worked really hard to get five really important points in the last week.
“We need to make sure we continue this run and keep up the momentum going into the next few games.”
Morecambe’s last five results:
14/02/2026 | Southend United 5-1 Morecambe | ENL
10/02/2026 | Morecambe 2-2 Tamworth | ENL
07/02/2026 | Morecambe 1-2 Truro City | ENL
03/02/2026 | Altrincham 1-1 Morecambe | ENL
24/01/2026 | Morecambe 0-2 Solihull Moors | ENL
Eastleigh’s last five results:
14/02/2026 | Boreham Wood 2-2 Eastleigh | ENL
10/02/2026 | Solihull Moors 2-3 Eastleigh | ENL
07/02/2026 | Eastleigh 2-2 Wealdstone Town | ENL
31/02/2026 | Braintree Town 2-1 Eastleigh | ENL
24/02/2026 | Southend 4-1 Eastleigh | ENL
Previous Meetings:
The sides have only faced each other once previously and that was at the Silverlake in October when goals from Lloyd Humphries and a Ciaran McGuckin penalty earned the Spitfires a 2-1 victory.
25/10/2025 | Eastleigh 2-1 Morecambe | ENL
Player’s to watch:
Morecambe’s Jack Nolan:
Morecambe’s right winger Jack Nolan has been a bright spark amongst the team in what they will consider a disappointing season. The Portsmouth-born winger has plenty of experience in league football, developing his trade at Walsall, Accrington Stanley and Gillingham before making the move to the Shrimps at the start of 2025.
Nolan scored on his debut for the club and then went on a hot streak, bagging three goals in his first three games for the club. In the 25 games he has featured in this season, he has registered 11 goals and assists, scoring seven and setting-up four.
The tricky winger will be hoping to make a decisive impact against Eastleigh as he looks to aid the Shrimps in their battle to avoid back-to-back relegations. It’s a task that will be far from straightforward, however, the odds stacked against Morecambe heading into the contest.
Eastleigh’s Aaron Blair:
Similarly to Nolan, Aaron Blair was a new signing who made an impact to the team. The former Braintree Town and Maidstone striker scored three goals in his first four starts for the Spitfires. Despite picking up an injury against Solihull Moors at the start of October that saw him miss seven games Blair has still managed 12 goals this season.
The rapid striker needed just ten minutes to open the scoring in his previous outing, latching onto a long ball forward from goalkeeper Nick Townsend. Blair brought the ball down superbly before calmly slotting it past the Wood goalkeeper, who had strayed into no man’s land.
The 25-year-old will be eager to maintain his sharp form in front of goal on Saturday, knowing another decisive contribution could see Eastleigh stretch the gap to the relegation zone to nine points rather than six.
Match coverage:
There will be full, live updates available across both club’s social media accounts. Follow along on X, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM.
