Steve Claridge wishes Weymouth's Conference South season had started two weeks ago.

The Terras boss saw his jaded side comprehensively beaten by Isthamian Premier Divison Eastleigh at a stifling Wessex Stadium.

Skipper Paul Buckle headed the hosts into a first half lead as they threatend to run riot.

But poor finishing came back to haunt them as the vistiors took full advantage of shaky home defending to win this friendly.

Paul Sales and a Rob Matthews double secured victory for a slick Eastleigh outfit.

And Claridge admitted the defeat was a blow to Weymouth's preparations for the new seaspm.

He said: "That was a jaded and sluggish performance and, in many ways, I wished the season had started two weeks ago.

"Mistakes were made both on and off the park today and we certainly did not look like the side we have earlier in the pre-season.

"Defensively we were shaky throughout while we created enough chances to have won four games let alone one.

"But I don't want people to go overboard with this defeat.

"Yes, we were poor but I'm hoping we have got that out of our system.

"I would rather we perfom like that this week than next Saturday against Cambridge City when it really matters."

Weymouth were forced to make a last minute reshuffle when defender Matt Bound bailed out to attend to his sick wife in hostipal.

His replacement Nathan Bunce played through the pain barrier for an hour before sccumbling to his groin injury.

The kick off was delayed 20 minutes after Eastleigh arrived late through holiday traffic.

And it seemed like the sluggish visitors were still on the team coach during the opening stages as Weymouth carved chance after chance.

Bunce powerfully headed Robbie Pethick's free-kick over before the Terras deservedly opened the scoring on 14 minutes.

Pethick found Claridge, who had pulled wide, down the right channel.

He played a neat one two with Steve Tully before sending over a pinpoint cross for skipper Buckle to head home.

The only suprise after that was how Weymouth did not make it two.

Claridge flased a low drive just wide, Ian Hutchinson prodded wide from close range after excellent work by Lee Philips and Buckle's volley had keeper Colin Matthews scampering.

A mix-up between Eastleigh defenders Chris Collins and Lee Bright let in Philips who found Claridge.

The striker, who suffered a slight groin strain during the course of the contest, looked odds on to score but crashed his shot against the woodwork.

Moments later Tully missed a sitter, sliced wide with the goal at his mercy.

And his side were made to pay when the excellent visitors equalised on 41 minutes.

Matthews neat lob from Sales' flick sailed over helpless Terras keeper Jason Matthews and into the roof of the net.

And the same pair were at it again to give Eastleigh the lead three minutes after the restart.

Matthews was on hand to tap in from close range after Matthews parried Sales shot into his path.

Suddenly the game was turned on its head as Weymouth's shaky defence ressembled the bad old days of last season.

Some quick-thinking by Martin Thomas led to number three on 64 minutes.

His free-kick found lively substitute Lewis Hunt who beat a static Terras backline and slotted past Matthews.

And things could have been even worse had Matthews not bravely blocked at the feet of his namesake late on.

Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Paul Gibbs, Nathan Bunce, Dave Waterman, Robbie Pethick, Paul Buckle, Ian Hutchinson, Steve Claridge, Lee Philpott, Lee Philips.

Subs: Lee Charles (for tully 79mins), Chukki Eribenne, Simon Browne (for Gibbs 79 mins), Martin Barlow (for Philpot 79 mins), Shaun Wilkinson (for Buckle 79 mins), Jamie Impey (for Bunce 52 mins)

Referee: Bill Lillington (Dorchester)