The Spitfires go into their second game of September, facing Southend United at the Roots Hall. With Kelvin Davis’ side coming off the back of a win against Tamworth.

The hosts found the back of the net twice in the first-half, which was enough to earn them victory under the lights.

The first chance of the game came from Southend as Gus Scott-Morriss met a back post cross which was saved nicely past the left post by Joe McDonnell.

Southend continued to apply pressure early on in the game when a long throw from Scott-Morriss found Aribim Pepple; his flick went just past the post.

With the 23rd minute just gone, Southend eventually found their breakthrough as Scott-Morris picked up the ball on the right wing and drove a low cross to the back post for Nathan Ralph to finish into the Eastleigh net.

Eastleigh almost instantly responded as Chris Maguire intercepted Collin Andeng Ndi’s sloppy pass. His powerful strike was saved and went out for a corner.

In the 45th minute, with half-time fast approaching, a scuffle in the box resulted in a Southend penalty and a Lloyd Humphries yellow card. Jack Bridge sent Joe McDonnell the wrong way and dispatched the penalty into the bottom left hand corner.

Within a minute of the restart, a Lloyd Humphries’ blocked shot gave Eastleigh a chance from a corner. McCallum met Jake Vokins’ cross with a header that was saved well by Andeng Ndi.

Eastleigh began showing a glimpse of promise and in the 53rd minute, Jake Vokins squeezed a half-volley through the Southend defence which was met with a comfortable save from Andeng Ndi.

As the game reached the hour mark, Andeng Ndi made another save. Richard Brindley found some space from far out and drove it low to the keeper’s left side, resulting in yet another Eastleigh corner.

Boutin’s left wing cross looked as if it was going to be met with a Paul McCallum header, however there were heads in hands as it came back off the crossbar.

As it was announced that five added minutes were being added to the 90, Southend went through on goal with Bonne, however he was unable to get a shot off due to a brilliant tackle from Niall Maher.

Jake Taylor headed over a Wes McDonald cross with what seemed to be the final chance of the game.

The loss to Southend was the Spitfires’ second of the season, Davis’ men will look to bounce back in their trip to Halifax the weekend.

Southend:  Andeng Ndi (GK), Scott-Morris, Ralph (C), Crowther, Bridge (Wood, 86′), Husin, Gubbins, Taylor, Pepple (Bonne, 67′) , Moncur (Appiah-Forson, 75′), Morton

Unused Subs: Hillson (GK), Wind, Faulkner, Macdonald

Goals: Ralph (24′), Bridge (45′)

Yellow Cards: Morton (56′)

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley, Vokins (Boutin, 69′), Humphries, Francillette (Panter, 84′), Maguire (McDonald, 69′), Taylor (C), McCallum, Shade, Waruih, Maher

Unused Subs: Scott (GK), Fernandez, Hodson, Semenyo

Yellow Cards: Humphries (45′), Maguire (63′), Boutin (77′), McCallum (86′)

Referee: Jacob Miles

Attendance: 6,359 (49 Away)

Report by James McGlynn