IT was business as usual for Eastleigh striker Andy Forbes in his first game back from injury at Braintree Town on Saturday.

Making his competitive comeback after a double calf operation, the non-league player-of-the-year popped up with a 71st-minute goal to secure a 1-1 draw for Paul Doswell's men.

Paul Sales, also making his first start after a fractured leg, put in a speculative shot that was spilled by Braintree keeper Danny Gay.

And Forbes, whose habit of being in the right place at the right time bagged him 76 goals for Winchester City last season, eagerly gobbled up the rebound.

Manager Doswell admitted: "Forbesy's got a natural, God-given talent for goal-scoring - and the best thing of all is that his calves didn't hurt him.

"He and Salesy surprised me. I thought they'd only last an hour, but Paul played the whole game and when we took Andy off with about five minutes to go he gave us one of those 'I don't want to come off' looks.

"Neither of them were at their best, but they gave us a much stronger physical presence up front."

Eastleigh had a new lease of life at the back too with Wayne Shaw coming in for transfer-listed goalkeeper Colin Matthews, Rob Marshall returning from a broken hand and exciting, new find Adam James making his full debut at right-back.

James, who spent three years as a trainee and first-year pro at Manchester City, has moved to the area from Cwmbran to work on the railways.

Player-coach Nicky Banger, the former Saints striker, was impressed with the 21-year-old. He said: "His decision-making's good and he gives us a great physical presence."

With both teams looking solid in defence, chances were at a premium. Shaw did well to keep out an Ellis Remy shot before Alex Revell fired Braintree ahead just before the interval.

Wessex League outfit Gosport Borough have emerged as favourites to sign want-away keeper Matthews, who handed in a transfer request last week.

Eastleigh chairman Roger Sherwood confirmed: "Gosport have agreed a fee and we're pretty sure he's going there. We had three other inquiries and I believe another two clubs have phoned Colin himself."