HE is a firm fans’ favourite at the Silverlake Stadium, yet left-back Michael Green can be a source of frustration for Eastleigh boss Richard Hill.

But on Saturday the 25-year-old New Forest lad won over his harshest critic with a top-notch performance that had both management and spectators purring.

Tenacious in defence and menacing going forward, Green contributed to a superb team effort as the Spitfires sent third-placed FC Halifax crashing 4-1 - their heaviest defeat of the Vanarama Conference campaign.

Having gone in 1-1 at half-time, it was Green’s 53rd-minute strike that steered the injury-plagued Spitfires towards their first victory in four games after mega-tough assignments against Wrexham, Bristol Rovers and Barnet.

When Green needlessly got himself sent off after failing to heed Hill’s instructions in the 2-2 draw against Gateshead in August, the manager couldn’t hide his disappointment.

But there has seldom been any question in Hill’s mind that the former Christchurch, AFC Totton and Port Vale defender possesses all the attributes to impose himself on non-League’s elite. Speaking after Saturday’s impressive win, Hill said: “The lads were great today and we scored at good times having got ourselves back into it with a goal out of nothing from Jai Reason.

“We scored a nice goal to go 2-1 up early in the second half and, although it was half deflected, take nothing away from Greener, he was tremendous today.

“I’ve been his biggest critic, but everything Michael Green did today showed what he’s capable of producing and credit to him for that.

“People can see how frustrated I get with him at times, but that frustration comes out of knowing how good a player Greener could be.

“Craig Stanley and Ben Strevens were brilliant in the centre of the park and credit to Jamie Collins too. It’s not ideal for him to be playing on the left, but he kept us in good shape and it allows Greener to get forward. Everyone was decent today.”

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Hill described it as “a battle from start to finish.”

And he had some sympathy for Halifax who, unlike the Spitfires, had been in midweek action, playing 40 minutes with ten men after defender Marc Roberts was red-carded in a 2-2 draw with Wrexham.

“Halifax have had a tough week and the lad who got sent off was one of their better players, so a bit of me was quite relieved he was suspended,” Hill confessed.

“They travelled down last night (Friday) and didn’t get here ’til 11pm, but that’s the league we’re in now and let’s not lose sight of the fact that we played Thursday night and Saturday at the start of the season.

“Today’s game epitomised this league, it was a battle from start to finish, but we spoke in the week about the need to cut out some of the big, glaring mistakes we’ve been making and, apart from the one incident with Ross (goalkeeper Ross Flitney), we did that.

“Saying that, Ross has made a great save second half.”

It was Flitney’s error that presented Halifax with a 16th-minute lead from the penalty spot. Unable to hold Adam Smith’s shot, he brought down the Shaymen’s on-loan Southport striker Danny Hattersley in a desperate attempt to retrieve the ball and top scor¬ er Scott Boden punished him from 12 yards.

Within six minutes Eastleigh were level thanks to a stroke of magic from Jai Reason.

Halifax’s Friday night slog from West Yorkshire appeared to catch up with them as Eastleigh’s gifted No10 taught them cold with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards out in the left channel.

It arced inside the near post with ’keeper Matt Glennon a bemused bystander.

Spitfires’ targetman Craig McAllister was desperately unlucky with a header that struck both bar and post shortly before the interval, but it was his vision that set up Green for his first goal of the season.

Spotting the full-back’s lung-busting burst down the left, he picked him out with a crossfield pass and Green raced on and wrong-footed Glennon with a deflected strike into the far corner.

Halifax responded positively with Hattersley firing over an open goal and Flitney brilliantly repelling Simon Ainge’s header before Paul Marshall’s volley rattled the crossbar.

With three quality frontmen - James Constable, Jack Midson and Ben Wright - already sidelined, the last thing Eastleigh needed was to lose McAllister to an ankle problem with 20 minutes remaining.

But while quantity may be lacking, the quality remains – as late strikes by Stuart Fleetwood and Strevens demonstrated.

On 76 minutes Fleetwood’s deflected strike looped over Glennon, hit the bar and crossed the line.

Fleetwood then turned provider, crossing for Strevens to bury a firm, far-post header with seconds of normal time remaining.

Eastleigh, 12th, have won five and drawn three of their eight home matches this season.

They return to their Silverlake fortress this Saturday to face Liam Daish’s new charges Nuneaton Town whom they beat 3-0 away in their first ever top-flight game.

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Michael Green, Jamie Collins, Dean Beckwith, Craig Stanley, Jai Reason, Craig McAllister (Yemi Odubade, 73), Stuart Fleetwood, Ben Strevens, Will Evans, Paul Reid. Subs (not used): Dan Spence, Chris Todd, Harrison Weeks, Tony Lee.

FC Halifax: Matt Glennon, James Bolton, Scott McManus (Lois Maynard, 50), Simon Ainge, Adam Smith, Paul Marshall, Steve Williams, Kevin Roberts, Scott Boden, Danny Schofield (Jamie Jackson, 61), Danny Hattersley. Subs (not used): Phil Senior, Matty Pearson, Richard Peniket.

Referee: Paul Rees (Portishead) Attendance: 1,498