Richard Hill's Spitfires down Halifax 4-1 in Vanarama Premier

Having drawn with Bristol Rovers at home and lost away at Wrexham and Barnet, Richard Hill’s men finally shot down one of the big guns, scoring three times in the second-half to beat third-placed FC Halifax Town 4-1.

The injury-hit Spitfires, still without James Constable, Jack Midson, Jamie Turley and Ben Wright, made two changes from last Saturday’s starting line-up at Barnet. Stuart Fleetwood and Will Evans came in with Dan Spence and Chris Todd dropping to the bench.

Eastleigh did most of the early pressing, forcing two corners in the first ten minutes – the second after Craig McAllister had sprayed the ball to Evans on the right of the area and his driven effort was deflected wide.

On ten minutes Halifax’s James Bolton looked in vain for a foul as he and McAllister challenged for a bouncing ball near the edge of the visitors’ box.

Eastleigh’s player/assistant manager used his body strength well to get round the defender and fire just past the near post.

Halifax had barely threatened when they took the lead via the penalty spot with 16 minutes gone.

Adam Smith tested Ross Flitney with a powerful strike which the Eastleigh keeper couldn’t hold. With Danny Hattersley closing in, Flitney brought him down as he dived at his feet in a desperate attempt to retrieve the ball and referee Paul Rees pointed to the spot.

Scott BODEN stepped up and blasted the penalty high to Flitney’s left.

Lifted by that breakthrough, the Shaymen went on the attack again with Danny Schofield having an initial shot blocked and firing the follow-up straight at Flitney.

But the Spitfires kept their heads and pulled it back to 1-1 with 22 minutes gone thanks to another stroke of brilliance from Jai Reason.

McAllister, who was keeping Halifax occupied with his physical presence, was fouled by Bolton on the left.

And with Halifax seemingly still readying themselves for the free-kick, REASON stunned them with an exquisitely arced strike into the near top corner.

With the Shaymen a tad deflated, Eastleigh regained the upper hand with Ben Strevens nodding an effort wide from Reason’s assist and the visitors breathing a sigh of relief when Michael Green’s dangerous, low ball skidded across the rain-sodden box, evading everyone on its way.

Green then hooked a right-footed effort over after Reason and Jamie Collins had helped on an Evans throw from the right.

The Spitfires were desperately unlucky not to take the lead two minutes before the break as Reason and McAllister again made their mark on the game.

McAllister earned a free-kick 40 yards out after being shoved over by Steven Williams.

It was out of shooting range this time, but Reason instead picked out McAllister unmarked at the far post.

The big targetman met it with a deft header which initially struck the underside of the crossbar and then bounced down and hit the inside of the post before rebounding into open play.

The home side had plenty of possession at the start of the second-half but it was all too cramped to open up the Halifax defence.

But all that changed on 53 minutes when McAllister picked out the run of GREEN bursting down the left.

The attacking full-back raced onto the crossfield pass and made his way into the area before neatly working himself an opening and rifling the ball into the far corner with the help of a deflection.

The Shaymen responded strongly with Hattersley firing over when it looked easier to score and Eastleigh somehow surviving a twin 64th minute assault which saw Flitney brilliantly stop Simon Ainge’s header on the line before Paul Marshall’s volley struck the crossbar.

Eastleigh were forced into their first substitution on 73 minutes when McAllister took a knock on the ankle and was replaced by Yemi Odubade. The Spitfires could ill have done with another injury blow, but they made light of it to make it 3-1 on the 76th minute.

Strevens played in FLEETWOOD whose shot took a deflection and hit the bar before looping over keeper Matthew Glennon.

Fleetwood followed up with a driving run and cross from the right that just eluded Collins at the near post.

With determination and confidence flooding through the ranks, Eastleigh were hell bent on scoring a fourth.

It came in the 89th minute when, following industrious play by Evans and Reason on the right, the latter found Fleetwood who arrowed a cross to the back post where STREVENS headed powerfully into the far corner.