Craig McAllister netted for the first time this season as Eastleigh beat strugglers Nuneaton Town 2-1 at the Silverlake Stadium in the Vanarama Conference this afternoon.

Jamie Collins bagged the Spitfires second as the Spitifres looked to be cruising to victory.

But Lee Fowler’s 67th minute free kick set-up a nervy finale for the Spitfires as the visitors searched hard for an equaliser.

The Stoneham Lane outfit have now recorded back-to-back victories after winning 4-1 against Halifax last weekend and lift themselves to just off the play-off places.

And Richard Hill’s side have now done the double over the Warwickshire side, who are stranded in the relegation zone.

A good sight for the Silverlake faithful was James Constable return from injury as a second half substitute.

An unattractive fiddly, stop and start opening 15 minutes saw two Nuneaton players – James Armson and Dane Griffiths – booked and a number of free kicks conceded by both sides.

But after McAllister grabbed the opening goal, splendidly hitting home a half volley from the edge of the box past the outstretch arm of Town rookie keeper James Hogarth-Wren on 18 minutes, Eastleigh were mostly in the first half driving seat – creating many chances but failing to extend the lead.

Jai Reason had time and space at the near post, but squandered a glorious chance. McAllister, Collins and Ben Stevens orchestrated some good play with Stuart Fleetwood benefiting from a couple balls into box – the resulting shots were well stopped by keeper Hogarth-Wren.

Dean Beckwith closed out the half when he narrowly missed the target with a header at the back post from Michael Green’s cross.

Nuneaton barely troubled Ross Flitney’s goal – although Gareth Dean planted a header just wide and a square ball whistled unattended through the Spitfires box – other than that a dominant half by Hill’s men.

You’d have expected the Spitfires to kick-on and escalate their control after the restart, but it returned to being a bit stop and start – play didn’t flow at all.

And it was a scruffy finish by Collins that saw Eastleigh double their lead on 56 minutes after a throw-in by the midfield man wasn’t cleared by the away side.

The ball bounced its way to McAllister, whose cheeky back-heel found the onrushing Collins. His half scuffed shot bobbled into the right of the net.

Moments later Nuneaton forward Oneme Sodje missed an open goal in acres of space. His awful, spooned shot clattered against the post and Green cleared off the line.

But just as Eastleigh looked comfortable, Fowler put Liam Daish’s side back into the match with wonderfully struck free kick on the edge of the box, that powered its way past Flitney.

Minutes later he darted into the box. His soft shot slipped out of Flitney’s hand and off the bar.

The game should have been beyond Nuneaton’s reach, but instead a late surge saw a nervy last 15 for Eastleigh.

There were waved-away calls against Beckwith for hand ball in the box and Ben Hutchinson couldn’t climb high enough to head home from close range. Another effort was flashed across goal, but Town couldn’t find the leveller.

Att: 1009 Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Michael Green, Jamie Collins, Dean Beckwith (c), Craig Stanley, Jai Reason (James Constable 58), Craig McAllister, Stuart Fleetwood (Chris Todd 90), Ben Strevens, Will Evans, Paul Reid. Unused subs: Dan Spence, Yemi Odubade, Ben Wright.

Nuneaton Town: James Hogarth-Wren, Connor Franklin, Gareth Dean (c), James Armson (Jack Dyer 80), Theo Streete, Dane Griffths (Craig Curran 59), Anton Brown, Lee Fowler, Onome Sodje (Ben Hutchinson 74), Anthony Charles, Adam Dawson. Unused subs: Ben Starosta, Adam Walker.