EASTLEIGH manager Lee Bradbury was left feeling “very positive” despite losing after going ahead at title-chasing Notts County on Tuesday.

Ruben Rodrigues struck twice to drag Notts County to within a point of National League leaders Wrexham after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Spitfires.

With the Magpies trailing at the break to Danny Whitehall’s penalty, the Portuguese levelled and then fired his side in front before Macaulay Langstaff cemented a win which piles the pressure on the Welshmen, who have a game in hand.

The result leaves the Hampshire outfit in seventh and still inside the playoff places, with a five-point lead on Wealdstone – who also have a game in hand – in eighth.

“I thought we were excellent in the first half and could have been three goals ahead inside 15-20 minutes,” Bradbury told club media.

“I think we shocked them with a different formation and took the game to them, they’re a good team and we got after them.

“We showed them respect, they’re a really good team and we took them by surprise. We limited them in the first half and they know they have been in a good game," he added.

“We run out of energy a little bit, we’re a bit thin in numbers, and we switched off a couple of times and let a good team punish us.

“Very positive though, I give the lads freedom to play and we wanted to squeeze up the pitch as if you give them too much time they’re a really good team."

Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell had to save from Rodrigues and Jodi Jones early on with County counterpart Tiernan Brooks thwarting Whitehall as both sides enjoyed chances.

However, Whitehall was not to be denied 12 minutes before the break when he sent Brooks the wrong way from the spot to put the visitors ahead.

The home side forced their way back into on the hour when Rodrigues struck from Langstaff’s lay-off after Aaron Nemane had burst into space and fed him.

Rodrigues stabbed County in front 14 minutes from time, before Langstaff rounded off the win with a late header.