A second half double from Elliot Lee saw Eastleigh fall to a 2-1 defeat to Wrexham on the opening day of the 2022/23 National League season.
The Spitfires had taken an early lead through George Langston, but an inspired second half change from Phil Parkinson swung the tie in the host’s favour.
There were plenty of new faces on show across both sides as Lee Bradbury handed league debuts to seven summer signings, as well as a first professional appearance for one of the Academy’s Elite Development Squad players.
After an even first 10 minutes, Wrexham went close to opening the scoring. A trademark long throw from Ben Tozer found Paul Mullin, but his goal-bound effort was blocked by his teammate Tom O’Connor.
One of the Spitfires’ summer signings, Langston, wasted no time in grabbing his first Eastleigh goal.
On 15 minutes he poked the ball home from close range to fire the visitors into an early lead.
Langston and Brennan Camp found themselves in the referee’s book as a succession of fouls from both sides disrupted the flow of the first half.
Wrexham closed out the half on top, Ollie Palmer went close to finding the equaliser with a header on two occasions.
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and won a free kick in a dangerous area when the ball bounced unkindly and struck JJ McKiernan on the hand.
Joe McDonnell leapt across the goal to prevent substitute Jordan Davies from pulling Wrexham back on level terms.
Phil Parkinson’s side continued to pile of the pressure by throwing former West Ham forward Elliot Lee into the action.
He quickly started to cause problems, twisting his way down the right to find enough space for a cross, which Palmer could only head wide.
On 73 minutes Lee pulled Wrexham level with a brilliant bending effort from the left of the box which left McDonnell with little chance.
Exactly ten minutes later Lee completed the comeback by scoring his second of the afternoon.
Under pressure from orange shirts he remained composed and smashed the ball past a helpless McDonnell.
Wrexham Line Up: Howard, McFadzean (Mendy, 80’), Tozer, Hayden, Young, Palmer, Mullin, Forde, O’Connor (Davies, 19’), Jones (Lee, 63’), Cleworth
Subs: Watson, Dalby
Goals: Elliot Lee 73’, 83’
Eastleigh Line Up: McDonnell, Camp, Langston, Martin (C), Panter, Harper, Cisse (Rutherford, 86’), Carter, McKiernan (Hesketh, 75’), Whitehall (Hill, 64’), Abrahams
Subs: Willson, Yang
Goal: George Langston 15’
