Eastleigh director of football Mark Dennis slammed the club's defenders for squandering a two-goal lead at Leyton.

Midfielder Jamie Stokoe and veteran striker Nicky Banger scored the goals that got Eastleigh off to a flier, despite the injury crisis that saw Paul Sales, Andy Forbes, Rob Marshall, Martin Thomas and David Hughes all ruled out.

Stokoe benefited from a mistake by Leyton keeper James Hassell to give Eastleigh a 17th-minute lead, and then Banger doubled the visitors' advantage with a spectacular strike that found the top corner midway through the first half.

Danny Jones pulled a goal back from close range on 37 minutes and, in the 71st minute, Manny Williams, who had set up his side's first goal, equalised from 15 yards.

Midfielder Danny Rofe, son of Saints coach Dennis, was red carded in the 87th minute to make it a miserable second half for the Ten Acres outfit.

Dennis, pictured above, said: "Before the game we would have settled for the draw because we were without five influential players but we played some scintillating football for the first half hour - and then started to showboat.

"We completely went to pieces and the heads were down when the players came in 2-1 down at half-time.

"There are just too many weak minds in our side and we had to spell out a few home truths at half-time, when our dressing room was not somewhere you'd want to be!

"We still created a few chances in the second half but we were guilty of hari-kari defending and, if that keeps happening, something will have to be done.

"People will still see it as a good result but it could have been much better."