The Spitfires lose, following a second-half comeback from Braintree Town at the Silverlake Stadium.

Tyrese Shade gave the Spitfires the lead of the game early on, but a turnaround in performance from Braintree after the break meant they would go on to win.

Former Spitfires, George Langston and Ryan Clampin both started for the Essex side.

Following a slow start to the game, with neither side being able to create any real chances within the first 25 minutes, Shade popped up with a bit of magic. From the edge of the box, he managed to fire the ball straight into the bottom right corner of the goal to give the Spitfires the lead of the game.

The Spitfires’ second chance of the game came when Luis Fernandez met a Jake Vokins cross in the 34th minute. However, he could not generate enough power with his headed effort to beat Lucas Covolan in the Braintree goal.

Jake Vokins tested Covolan with a free kick on the edge of the box just before the break. The Braintree ‘keeper got down well to deny him in the bottom right corner.

Shortly after the break, Shade attempted to score his second of the day with a shot on the edge of the box. But, he could not find the target, as he sliced his effort over the crossbar.

Tom Blackwell levelled the scoring with the visitors first proper chance of the day. He hit home from close range in the 54th minute, leaving the Spitfires with work to do to get back in front.

Rio Davidson-Phipps had an audacious attempt denied by McDonnell in the 75th minute. He shot from long-range, and was denied by McDonnell who got in the air to catch the ball.

The visitors took the lead of the game late on, with Frankie Terry getting onto the end of a long throw in.

The Spitfires did not manage to respond to the goal, meaning what started as a positive afternoon, would end in disappointment.

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Vokins, Fernandez (Humphries, 70′), Francillette (Ryan, 85′), Maguire (Brindley, 70′), Taylor (C), McCallum, Shade, Gape (Hodson, 70′), Waruih, Maher

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Boutin, Underhill

Goals: Shade (25′)

Yellow cards: Shade (89′)

Braintree Town: Covolan (GK), Clampin, Langston (C), Annesley, Vennings, Blackwell, Effiong, Cooper (Lisbie, 71′), Terry, Robinson (Davidson-Phipps, 32′), Francis

Unused subs: Haxthausen Nielsen (GK), Kelly, Wilkinson, Balogun

Goals: Blackwell (54′), Terry (81′)

Yellow cards: Davidson-Phipps (45+3′), Clampin (80′), Francis (89′), Terry (89′)

Referee: Greg Rollason

Attendance: 1,942 (28 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs