PROUD chairman Roger Sherwood saluted Eastleigh's incredible three-year journey from Wessex mediocrity to the Ryman Premier play-offs following Saturday's 3-0 win at Northwood.

Two first-half goals from Andy Forbes and a second-half Ryan Ashford strike mean the Sparshatts Stadium club are guaranteed an appearance in the play-off semi-finals on May 3/4.

"It's incredible what's been achieved in such a short space of time since Paul (manager Paul Doswell) has been at the helm," said Sherwood.

"It's like an express train that never slows down and I feel I need to grab hold of something to stop me falling off!"

Three years ago when Doswell and ex-Saint David Hughes took on the Eastleigh project, the club were way down in the local pecking order, but how times have changed!

Sherwood said: "When you look at where Bashley and Newport IoW were, we seem to be ahead at the moment. I know Salisbury are in the same league as us, but we're even in front of them, which is amazing."

Eastleigh have two more games remaining, at home to Heybridge this Saturday and away to Dover on April 30, and Sherwood stressed: "We need to finish third to get home advantage in the play-off semi-final."