Chris Maguire rescues a late point for the Spitfires, following a tough afternoon at the Silverlake Stadium.

The visitors put the Spitfires in a difficult situation early on, with them scoring early on into it.

Scott Quigley was given his marching orders early into the second-half, leaving the Spitfires with a real mountain to climb to get something from the game.

Chris Maguire rewarded the Spitfires efforts late home, as he fired home from the spot to snatch a point.

Boston’s goal came in the 10th minute, following a fine sequence of football that ended with Sam Osborne finding the back of the net from the centre of the box.

Noa Boutin attempted to cancel out Boston’s early lead, when he took aim from range in the 16th minute. His shot was blocked and went out for an Eastleigh corner that resulted in nothing.

Lloyd Humphries then had a go on goal a minute or so later, with a cross being whipped onto his head. His attempt to turn the ball home was met by Aidan Stone, who held the ball well.

The remainder of the half was mainly played out in the middle of the park, with neither side managing to get any proper shots off.

Keaton Ward did have a go with a free-kick from around 20-yards out, just before the break. He could not find the target with his curled attempt.

After the break, Scott Quigley was sent off, meaning the Spitfires would have to play the remaining 35 minutes of the game with ten men.

The visitors tried to double their lead through Cameron Green, who tested Joe McDonnell with a shot on the left side of the 6-yard-box, but saw his effort get stopped well by the Spitfires ‘keeper.

McCallum came painfully close to equalising just after the hour mark. He drilled a shot from the edge of the box low towards the target, but found the post.

Late on, Maguire had a go from long distance, but he couldn’t find the target.

McCallum headed the ball towards goal, just before injury-time, but he could not quite find the target.

McDonnell produced an excellent stop in the first minute of injury-time to deny the visitors from doubling their lead.

In the dying moments of the game, the Spitfires relentless efforts were rewarded in the form of a penalty. Maguire did not waste the opportunity to take a point and struck the ball into the centre of the goal.

This was the final chance of the game, with it ending in a draw.

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Humphries (Maguire, 46′), Fernandez (Semenyo, 80′), Francillette, McCallum (C), Shade, Hodson, Waruih, Quigley, Boutin (Vokins, 46′), Maher (Panter, 46′)

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Gape, McDonald

Goals: Maguire (P) (90+5′)

Yellow cards: Shade (35′), Vokins (79′)

Red cards: Quigley (54′)

Boston United: Stone (GK), Coates, Green, Ward, Marriott (Maguire, 72′), Rowe, Aderoju (Hazel, 84′), Richards, Osborne (Woods, 90+6′), Mills (C), Hill

Unused subs: Craven (GK), Leak, Tomlinson, Frostick

Goals: Osborne (10′)

Yellow cards: Osborne (45+5′), Hazel (85′)

Referee: James Oldham

Attendance: 1,942 (169 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs