MANAGER Kelvin Davis was "really pleased" as Eastleigh opened their National League campaign with a 2-0 win at Maidenhead United.

The Spitfires went ahead through an own goal, forced by Jake Vokins, from Maidenhead defender Will De Havilland in the 32nd minute.

Former Saints winger Vokins soon doubled the lead when his long-range free-kick dropped into the corner of the net.

Maidenhead looked for a way back into the match in the second half as Kevin Lokko saw his long-range effort saved by Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell.

Referee Jamie O’Connor had to be replaced by the fourth official for the closing stages as he was forced off by a calf problem, with Lokko then sending a late header over.

After the match, Davis said: "I am really pleased to keep a clean sheet and score two goals, getting the season off in the right manager that we have worked towards.

"Vokins did well, he's got the qualities, he has a fantastic delivery on his left foot and on his day he is as good as anyone in the league.

"We are lucky to have him and he has a good opportunity to be with us. He can show his quality and show the level he is capable of.

"We pay attention to set-=pieces because we know they are important but we trust the ability of the players we have got." 

The Spitfires have now kept five clean sheets in a row in National League matches away from home since the end of last season. 

Davis explained: "It's a mentality thing. From the day we came in, we have been clear that you don't win anything without clean sheets and defending your goal.

"We have worked on that a lot in pre-season and we have brought it into the first game. There were areas where we had to defend in the box.

"In the second half, we tweaked a couple of things and the lads responded really well - I can't remember them having a free cross into the box." 

Summer signing Deji Sotona, 21, suffered a knee injury and required serious medical attention after suffering the concern in the closing stages of the match.

"It doesn't look good," Davis admitted. "We won't know the extent of it until later in the week - it has dampened the mood of the day.

"He is a player who can turn a game for us and give us a lot going forward. He is very sharp and we discussed the other day that he would be a fan favourite.

"He's come away from a sticky pitch with a bad injury and I feel gutted for the kid, to be honest."