Eastleigh kept on course for the Ryman Premier play-offs with a 2-1 result at Harrow Borough - and then dedicated victory to injured player/assistant manager David Hughes.

The popular ex-Saints midfielder is out for the rest of the season - and possibly permanently - with a recurrence of the knee problems that cruelly wrecked his professional career.

The swelling was still so bad on Saturday that he couldn't travel to Middlesex, but he was in the hearts and minds of his Eastleigh teammates who were determind to 'do it for David.'

Director of football Mark Dennis said: "In the team talk Dossie (manager Paul Doswell) and I spoke about a lad who's given everything to this club, playing for nothing, and who is possibly looking at the end of his career.

"We said the least they could do was go out and win for David and the boys did it for him.

"When they came in afterwards they said: 'That's for Hughesy' and I must admit I had a tear in my eye."

For half an hour Eastleigh were irresistably good and should have built on Tyronne Bowers' 14th-minute opener set up by Ryan Ashford.

They twice hit the post through Paul Sales and Bowers and forced keeper Keita Karamoko into a couple of excellent saves.

Inexplicably Eastleigh went off the boil towards the end of the half, allowing Danny Dyer to level, but they were gifted a winner on 56 minutes when Karamoko dropped the ball.

Although the goal was originally credited to defender Chris Collins, Dennis said: "I think it was Forbesy (Andy Forbes) who stabbed it in, but nobody really knows.

"It was a bit of a scrappy winner, but they all count."

Hughes is due to have a scan on his knee tomorrow and manager Doswell said: "Fingers crossed he doesn't need another opearation."