Manager Kelvin Davis praised his Eastleigh side’s determination but felt they lacked strength in the “critical moment” after a 1-1 draw against Wealdstone in the National League.

Noa Boutin scored his first goal for the Spitfires after latching onto a through ball and beating the goalkeeper one-on-one in the seventh minute.

But Wealdstone’s Sam Ashford found the equaliser in the 65th minute with a header after Jaydn Mundle-Smith’s cross was guided into the box by heavy wind.

Davis felt that the conditions brought by Storm Bert turned the match scrappy.

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“Maybe the game became more about determination and the ugly parts of the game,” Davis said.

“For the last part of the game we were banging it, we were on second balls, even third contacts.

“It was about keeping them away from our box, certainly with the wind and the amount of effect that had on the game from a defensive perspective.

“Still pleased the lads’ effort, pleased with the determination. We looked fit, we looked strong but just in that critical moment, we didn’t show our best.”

Davis noted that particular attention had been paid to Wealdstone’s aerial threat and that it was disappointing to concede from a header.

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Davis said: “One moment where we allow the ball into our box and they get first contact, it’s a goal, which is disappointing.

“We’ve been working on hard that, so it’s a kick in the teeth when it’s something we’ve worked hard on on the training ground and we spoke about their threats and how they would create. In that moment, we didn’t match it.”

Boutin – who is at Eastleigh on loan from AFC Bournemouth until January – is playing National League football for the first time this season after stints at Gosport Borough and Weymouth FC last campaign.

Speaking on the state of the game in the wet and windy conditions, Boutin said: “I think we played well first half.

“We played long which was a bit tough on us. It’s really hard, I felt so heavy on the pitch to be fair, I’m still wet now and it was a tough game.”