The Spitfires recorded their third straight 1-0 win in the Vanarama National League in a tense encounter with Maidenhead United at the Silverlake Stadium.

Charlie Carter’s 12th minute goal was enough to secure the three points for the hosts, as he got on the end of Kairo Mitchell’s driven cross.

There was some early pressure from the visitors, when Emile Acquah headed towards goal from a corner in the third minute, which Joe McDonnell dealt with comfortably.

Will de Havilland then headed narrowly wide in the seventh minute, as Maidenhead continued their bright start to the game.

However, it was the Spitfires who would take the lead in the 12th minute, when Mitchell drilled the ball into a promising position in the box and Carter bundled the ball into the net.

Four minutes later, Mitchell almost doubled the Spitfires lead when he was put through one-on-one with Alexis Andre Jr., but the keeper saved well with his legs to prevent any further damage.

De Havilland threatened once again with a goal-bound header in the 28th minute, but he was denied once again by McDonnell.

In the closing stages of the first half, Maidenhead continued to push for an equaliser, as Adam Leathers curled an effort well wide of the mark.

Ashley Nathaniel-George then had a shot blocked by Oussenyou Cissé as the visitors finished the half strongly.

Early in the second half, the referee waved away Eastleigh penalty appeals as Alfie Lloyd went down in the box.

Lloyd was again involved, as he saw his speculative effort from range go over the bar in the 64th minute.

Minutes later, the Magpies were nearly level when their captain Alan Massey headed just wide from close range.

Sam Beckwith then fired a fierce cross into the box but neither Acquah or Sam Barratt could get on the end of it for the visitors.

Maidenhead continued to put the pressure on, with Nathaniel-George blasting a shot well over the bar from 25 yards out.

Eastleigh nearly wrapped up the win with just over 10 minutes remaining, as they caught Maidenhead on the break.

Lloyd played the ball through to Vincent Harper, who rounded the goalkeeper, but couldn’t convert from a tight angle.

Mitchell saw his attempt deflect narrowly wide as Eastleigh looked to kill the game off late on.

Lloyd was denied once again by Andre Jr. in second half stoppage time, as the hosts saw out the win in the closing stages.

Report by Tom Humphrey

Attendance: 2374 (102 away)

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Maghoma, Carter, Cissé (c), Whitehall (75), McKiernan, Harper, Mitchell, Panter, Rutherford, Lloyd

Subs: Atangana (75), Martin, Hesketh, Langston, Payne

Maidenhead: Andre Jr., Asare, Beckwith, De Havilland, Nathaniel-George, Ferdinand, Acquah, Smith (81), Leathers (57), Massey, Adams

Subs: Barratt (57), McCoulsky (81), Sparkes, Odutayo, Panayiotou