The Spitfires complete a superb comeback and then some to defeat AFC Fylde at the Silverlake Stadium, despite being behind at half-time.

Nick Haughton scored two within the first half an hour, then Taylor pulled a goal back for the hosts just before the break.

A rapid Paul McCallum equaliser put the Spitfires back on level terms before Chris Maguire fired us in front.

McCallum would go on to score another to give the Spitfires a two goal lead with just less than 15 minutes to go, and it would be a lead that they would not lose.

The Spitfires attempted to hit the visitors early on. Jake Vokins had a long-range effort in just the second minute after being urged to shoot by the home supporters, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Tyrese Shade then had a similar effort just three minutes later, he hit a venomous effort towards goal but it edged just wide of the target.

The Spitfires continued to put pressure on the Coasters, with Shade having another go on goal in the 10th minute. His low-driven effort from the edge of the box was held by Theo Richardson in the Fylde goal.

The early pressure from the Spitfires continued into the 15th minute when Scott Quigley looked set to open the scoring. McCallum nodded the ball over the Coasters backline, leaving Quigley through on goal. However, his shot on the turn could not find the target, and went wide to the left of the mark.

McCallum then had a go of his own just a minute later, Vokins whipped in an inviting cross that was headed towards goal by the Eastleigh striker. His effort would loop just over the crossbar and onto the top of the net.

The hosts then were handed a penalty against the run of play which was struck home by Haughton in the 20th minute. There were question marks over the initial decision to give a penalty, as the ball looked as if it had gone out of play in the build up, but the goal would stand.

Haughton would go on to score another seven minutes later, he lofted his effort into the top right corner to double the visitors lead.

Taylor would hit back in the 35th minute with a goal of his own. Richard Brindley whipped in a cross that was met by McCallum whose hot was blocked. The ball trickled into the path of Taylor who smashed the ball home into the bottom right corner to put the Spitfires back to being just one goal behind.

Just before the break, the Spitfires came close to finding an equaliser when McCallum connected with a corner. He glanced his shot just wide of the post meaning the Spitfires would trail at the interval.

The Spitfires came back out for the second-half with a point to prove. Shade made a superb run towards the AFC Fylde box before being taken down to earn a penalty. McCallum would step up to take the shot and fired the ball into the bottom right corner to put the Spitfires back on level terms, opening his account for the season in the process.

Following this, McCallum came agonisingly close to giving the Spitfires the lead on two occasions. His first attempt was a bullet of a head that was stopped well by Richardson, the second was a shot that went just wide of the target just a few minutes later.

Charlie Jolley came close to scoring for the Coasters in the 68th minute, but a smart stop from Joe McDonnell would deny him from scoring.

Maguire came on in the 69th minute and made an instant impact. He fired the ball home on the half-volley just seconds after coming on to complete the Spitfires comeback in impressive fashion.

McCallum added a second goal to his tally to really put the Spitfires in charge of the game. He redirected a cross into the top right corner to give the Spitfires a two goal cushion, after trailing at half-time.

Ludwig Francillette was sent off in the 85th minute after picking up a second yellow card, leaving the Spitfires with 10 men to see out the game with.

Owen Evans smashed a free kick at McDonnell late on in injury time as the visitors attempted to pull a goal back, his shot was denied and there was no more attempts on goal for the remainder of the game meaning the Spitfires would secure the win following an excellent comeback.

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley (Maguire, 69′), Vokins (Panter, 90+1′), Humphries, Francillette, Taylor (C) (Fernandez, 82′), McCallum, Shade (Semenyo, 82′), Nwabuokei, Quigley, Maher

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Waruih, Dotse

Goals: Taylor (35′), McCallum (47′, 76′), Maguire (70′)

Yellow cards: Francillette (19′), McCallum (45+5′)

Red cards: Francillette (85′)

AFC Fylde: Richardson (GK), Evans, Obi, Long, Mitchell, Haughton (O’Kane, 80′), Ustabasi, Whelan (C), Hosannah (Jolley, 55′), Ormerod (Zanzala, 77′), Riley

Unused subs: Winterbottom (GK), Gamble, Davis, Brennan

Goals: Haughton (20′, 27′)

Yellow cards: Obi (54′), Whelan (59′), Riley (86′)

Referee: Jason Richardson

Attendance: 1,820 (30 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs