EASTLEIGH boosted their play-off hopes by extending their unbeaten run to eight matches with a first win against Barrow – in front of a bumper home crowd.

The Spitfires are within a point of the top five, with a game in hand on Tranmere Rovers, after beating Barrow 3-1 at the Silverlake Stadium last night.

With free entry boosting the attendance to 3,292 , Eastleigh were buoyed by a cup-tie atmosphere while avenging their heartbreaking FA Cup defeat at Barrow six seasons ago and their 1-0 defeat in Cumbria back in September.

This time it was Barrow’s turn to make the 300-mile return trip empty handed.

Daily Echo:

PICTURED: James Constable

Luke Coulson’s first goal of the season, James Constable’s first in eight games and an injury-time goal from Ben Strevens secure the win.

Mid-table Barrow were soon trailing.

Coulson headed Eastleigh ahead with his first goal for the club in the ninth minute, from Matt Tubbs’ volleyed cross.

The January signing from Oxford City missed a gilt-edged chance to double the lead, directing a free header straight at the keeper after an excellent move between Tubbs, Ben Strevens and Jai Reason.

Tubbs was also denied at the far post, but Constable headed Eastleigh’s second in the 26th minute, glancing Michael Green’s cross from the left into the far corner.

Constable’s 16th goal of the season ended a barren run for the club’s top scorer, it being his first of Eastleigh’s unbeaten run.

Barrow, cheered on by 65 hardy souls, were determined to extend their own defeat-less sequence to 11 matches.

Eastleigh goalkeeper Ross Flitney was needed to deny Barrow’s Andy Cook with his legs before producing another near-post save to ensure the two-goal advantage remained at half-time.

But target-man Cook pulled a goal back, heading his 21st of the season unchallenged from a corner on the hour.

Flitney was soon needed to stop the number ten volleying a second from close range.

Having switched flanks, Coulson threatened a spectacular second goal when he flicked the ball up before volleying Le Tissier-like, but narrowly wide, from 40 yards out.

Sub Yemi Odubade also went close. After being put clean through the ball stuck in the goalmouth mud and he was denied by a clearance from inside the six-yard box.

Odubade was also twice denied by Dixon during four frantic minutes of injury-time - after Flitney had prevented a Cook equaliser from point-blank range.

Then Strevens, having scuffed a penalty straight at Dixon, netted the rebound.

Eastleigh manager Chris Todd said: “It’s a massive result for us, we had enough chances to win two games. Some of our football was breathtaking and the crowd was superb.”

Eastleigh: Flitney, Partinton, Evans, Turley, Green; Drury, Reason, Strevens, Coulson; Constable (Midson 83), Tubbs (Odubade 71).