When you think of strikers that ooze skill and confidence, Lionel Messi darts straight into your head and the Argentinian would have burst with pride if he did what Chris Maguire did on Saturday.
The Scottish forward completed the rout against Boreham Wood in the FA Cup first round on Saturday in scintillating fashion.
He controlled the ball, after a Scott Quigley flick on, twisted and turned two defenders inside out, onto the surface, before he hammered the ball home from six yards out with ease.
Eastleigh thumped the Hertfordshire side 5-1 in which Maguire scored twice and assisted in an emphatic individual performance for the striker.
The Hampshire side will face League One Reading at the Silverlake Stadium in the second round of the FA Cup, the tie will be played in early December.
At the age of 34, Maguire moved to the Spitfires, in the summer, after his contract wasn’t renewed at Ayr United in the Scottish Championship.
The Scottish forward is just shy of 600 professional appearances ranging from Europa League qualifying games to National League football.
He has brought timeless class every time he graces the pitch for Eastleigh and the way he roams around the pitch, it is clear he is enjoying himself in Hampshire.
After Charlie Carter went to Dorking Wanderers earlier in the campaign, the Spitfires needed a new vocal point in attack, and with Maguire’s experience and ability, he must be the person to do that.
He waltzed his way around the pitch in Saturday’s cup tie as he controlled the game with his classy touches and accurate passing.
Maguire has seven goals in 19 appearances for Richard Hill’s side this campaign which has included thumping free-kicks and skills that has National League defenders quivering in fear.
If this happens more often than not this season, Eastleigh have a fantastic chance of making the National League play-offs, after falling just short last season.
The Eastleigh ace has urged he is “loving his football” at the Silverlake Stadium but made a rallying cry to his teammates.
“I’m enjoying it, I’m playing, that’s the important thing and I’m enjoying it still at the age I am at, I just love football and want to continue for as long as I can.
“It has been enjoyable and there is a really good set of lads here, if we can find a bit more consistency, I’m sure we will go higher in the table.”
On reflection of the hammering of Boreham Wood, the forward said.
“It was good, it’s the FA Cup, so a break from the league, no pressure for three points and with a good performance we could get into the next round and thankfully we have done that.
“From the goalkeeper to the forward line everybody worked really hard, and it showed in the result.
“It’s just another game of football, we were at home so have got the advantage, we looked at their clips and how they play to try and exploit them, and we done that perfectly.”
Talking about his impact on the tie-on Saturday.
“That’s my job, that’s why I am on the team and the position that I play.
“I should be trying to create and goal scores myself and thankfully I have done that, it’s not about me today, it’s about the team.”
