Eastleigh 0 Lincoln City 1.

IF Lincoln City go on to win the Vanarama National League title, they may well remember this as the day they got off the hook.

Mid-table Eastleigh could and should have won this afternoon’s big showdown against the league leaders, but a single 77th-minute Sean Raggett header – coupled with some inspired goalkeeping from Paul Farman – contrived to leave the Spitfires empty-handed on an afternoon when they deserved so much more.

Eastleigh boss Richard Hill made three changes from the 4-0 defeat at Dagenham, drafting in Adam Dugdale, Ben Close and Scott Wilson to take on the might of Danny Cowley’s FA Cup quarter-finalists.

Matt Tubbs and Ayo Obileye were on the bench, while Ryan Burge dropped out of the 16 completely.

In games of this magnitude, the underdogs need to take their chances and Eastleigh allowed a huge one to go begging with less than two minutes gone.

Craig McAllister did brilliantly to bulldoze his way past Imps skipper Luke Waterfall as he drove to the right byline and Wilson really ought to have scored from his strike partner’s cut-back, but dragged his shot wide.

It was a nervy start by the league leaders and, with Eastleigh revelling in the spring sunshine, it was they who carved out the next two opportunities – both falling to McAllister.

First the big No19 tested keeper Farman after Wilson had slipped a pass in from the left and then he conjured up a sublime dipping volley from 25 yards that landed on the roof of the net.

Lincoln’s main threat came from set-pieces with Bradley Wood’s long throw sparking confusion in the Spitfires’ six-yard box before being ushered behind and, from the subsequent corner, Waterfall hit a far-post effort straight at Graham Stack in the home goal.

It all made for a pulsating opening to the game with Eastleigh giving as good as they got against their high-brow visitors – albeit that it needed Stack to be at his best on 22 minutes to keep the scoreline blank.

The all pink-clad figure of Farman pumped the ball up-field, muscular targetman Matt Rhead nodded it down and it looked for all the world as if Nathan Arnold would score until Stack intervened to brilliantly tip his effort over.

Having comfortably dealt with three successive Wood throws from the right, the Spitfires burst back to life to give Lincoln another almighty scare.

After good hold-up play on the right, skipper Sam Togwell slipped a pass to young Portsmouth loanee Ben Close whose blistering cross deflected wide off Wilson’s body as he was flanked by two defenders inside the six-yard box.

Just as Eastleigh were building up another head of steam, there was a lengthy delay while Lincoln defender Raggett received treatment for a facial injury which required a change of shirt.

With the Imps’ noisy band of supporters making themselves heard, Eastleigh kept their concentration well defensively, surviving a couple of ambitious penalty shouts from the visitors.

The bombardment of Wood throw-ins continued as, as the half ticked into its 45th minute, one eventually caught Eastleigh out, bouncing across the box to Arnold. His shot was heading goalwards through a crowd of players until Stack flung himself to his left and pushed it to safety.

Half-time: Eastleigh 0 Lincoln City 0.

Arnold fired an early warning shot at Eastleigh just moments into the second half, his ambitious effort from range bouncing wide.

Headed chances followed at either end with Waterfall and Rhead off target for Lincoln and the diminutive figure of Wilson going closest of all for Eastleigh under the shadow of the Mackoy Community Stand.

On 64 minutes another opportunity came the Spitfires’ way following some magical play from Hakeem Odoffin.

Having beaten his man, the Wolves loanee chipped a wonderful pass forward to release Wilson one on one, but having seemingly done everything right, the pacy Eastleigh No18 was denied by the spread-eagled Farman’s outstretched hand as he bore down on goal.

That was to be Wilson’s last notable contribution before he and Sam Matthews made way for Tubbs and Obileye on 72 minutes.

But for another marvellous intervention by Farman, the substitutions would have paid instant dividends. But Tubbs was denied by the keeper’s point-blank reflex save as he met Michael Green’s enticing delivery with a diving header and the ball was then scrambled off the line.

A goal would have been no more than Eastleigh deserved for their valiant efforts but, wouldn’t you just know it, it was Lincoln who snatched the winner with 77 minutes gone.

It was the most basic of goals too with Raggett rising high to head in sub Billy Knott’s floated free-kick delivery from the left.

But it mattered not to the 659 travelling fans who erupted in a mixture of joy and sheer relief, knowing title rivals Tranmere were trouncing Solihull Moors 9-0 elsewhere.

Eastleigh: Graham Stack, Michael Green, Sam Togwell, Paul Reid, Adam Dugdale, Gavin Hoyte, Sam Matthews (Matt Tubbs, 72), Ben Close (James Constable, 84), Scott Wilson (Ayo Obileye, 72), Craig McAllister, Hakeem Odoffin. Subs (not used): Chinua Cole, Ben Strevens.

Referee: Adam Bromley.

Attendance: 2,738 (659 from Lincoln)