A late equaliser means the honours were even in the Spitfires opening league game of the season in Solihull.

The first chance of the game came in the fifth minute when Lee Hodson whipped the ball onto the head of Paul McCallum whose effort was just wide of the right hand post.

Enzio Boldewijn came close to opening the scoring moments later, he cut onto the edge side of the box from the wing and curled a shot towards the far side of the goal only for it to hit the post.

Nico Gordon became the first name to go into the book after he tripped Boldewijn to prevent counter attack in the 12th minute.

The Spitfires had a promising looking counter attack in the 15th minute, McCallum laid the ball into the path of Oscar Rutherford whose shot was saved by Tommy Simkin and pushed into the path of Boldewijn whose cross was punched away to safety.

Solihull had their first chance in the 19th minute, Jamey Osborne had an ambitious effort from outside of the box saved by Joe McDonnell who got down well to deny him.

Charlie Carter had a shot from outside of the box in the 23rd minute which went just wide of the left post as both teams continued to search for an opener.

The next chance of the game came in the 33rd minute when Josh Kelly drove towards the box and aimed a shot towards the right hand side of the goal which was superbly saved by an outstretched McDonnell.

Jake Taylor had the ball fall to him in the box in the 36th minute and had his effort saved and blocked by the Solihull defence with the ball eventually going out for a corner.

The visitors earnt their second booking of the game when Osborne pulled Carter’s shirt in an off the ball incident in the 44th minute.

Solomon Nwabuokei was booked just a minute later after he returned the favour to Osborne by pulling his shirt.

McCallum had the first chance of the second half, his powerful effort from inside of the box was blocked by the Solihull defence and went out for a corner which came to nothing.

The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when Charlie Carter swung in a cross from the left wing which was found by Boldewijn who powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net to give the Spitfires the lead.

Osborne had the next real chance of the game in the 68th minute, his left footed shot from outside of the box was blocked and went out for a corner. The corner was met by Mark Beck but his effort also went wide.

Joss Labadie saw an effort from outside the box blocked, the ball flew out into the car park earning the home side a corner which was met by a headed effort from Kyle Morrison which went just wide of the right post.

Osborne came close to equalising in the 84th minute with a 30-yard effort that blazed just wide of the left of the goal.

Scott Quigley was booked for after taking longer than the referee would’ve liked late on in the game.

Kade Craig had a shot comfortably saved by McDonnell in the 88th minute as the home side continued to push for an equaliser.

Nico Gordon earnt his second yellow card of the game in the 90th minute for holding back Chris Maguire who was looking to break on the Solihull defence.

The home side did eventually get that equaliser in injury time as Morrison headed the ball into the right side of the goal.

Taylor came close to getting the lead back for the Spitfires moments later with a shot from just inside of the box that was saved by Simkin.

Maguire saw a volley blocked just wide of the goal which proved to be the last chance of the game as the Spitfires had to settle for a draw in our league opener.

Report by Matthew Gibbs.

Solihull:

Simkin (GK), Clarke, Gordon, Morrison, Craig, Newton, Labadie, Osborne (C), Mafuta (73), Beck (73), Kelly (45)

Bench:

Maycock (73), Hall, Stevens (45), Warburton (73), Stearman

Eastleigh:

McDonnell (GK), Clampin, Martin (C), Carter (90), McCallum (73), Boldewijn (78), Langston, Hodson, Nwabuokei, Rutherford, Taylor

Bench:

Scott (GK), Francillette (90), Maguire (78), Quigley (73), Yang

Attendance: 1188 (160 away)