A tightly contested game against Hartlepool United, ends in a goalless draw at the Prestige Group Stadium.

Despite the hosts going down to ten men early on, the Spitfires were not able to find a way through the Hartlepool defence.

A solid defensive display meant that the Spitfires would earn a clean sheet in County Durham.

In the sixth minute, Joe McDonnell denied Hartlepool from taking the lead with their first chance of the game. Adam Campbell struck the ball sweetly, but his shot was matched well by a diving McDonnell.

Pools skipper, Luke Watferall had the next chance to score. He was found by a corner, but couldn’t direct his shot towards the target.

Dan Dodds was given his marching orders in the 15 minute, for a horror tackle on Jake Vokins. Following a poor touch, he flew in to try and get the ball back at his feet, but only managed to wipe out Vokins in the process.

The Spitfires responded to this, with their first chance of the game. Paul McCallum to flick the ball home from close range, but saw his effort get gathered by Brad Young.

Vokins came close to putting himself on the scoresheet in the 34th minute. He was found at the back post by a looping Chris Maguire cross, before clattering the ball at Young in the Hartlepool goal.

A penalty shout just before the break was waved off by the referee, with McCallum having to receive treatment for a head injury that was caused during the incident.

The first chance of the second-half fell to Jake Taylor just a couple of minutes in. He drilled a shot towards goal, but dragged his effort just wide of the target.

Vokins came painfully close to putting the Spitfires ahead, with just under 20 minutes remaining. He was found by a cross, and after adjusting to meet the ball with his head, he could not find the target.

Connor Underhill had an opportunity to score, with a half volley on the edge of the box. But, he saw his effort get deflected just over the bar for an Eastleigh corner.

Mani Dieseruvwe fired a shot just wide of the mark in the 86th minute, with both teams pushing right ’til the end, with hopes of taking the lead.

Dieseruvwe then nodded the ball into the path of Luke Charman, and put it on a plate for the Pools man to score. McDonnell got across his goal well to save the close range effort, and keep Eastleigh in it.

Following this, neither side created any more chances, meaning the Spitfires would travel back down south with a point.

Hartlepool United: Young (GK), Dodds, Ferguson, Parkes, Waterfall (C), Campbell (Hunter, 68′), Charman, Grey (Lualua, 68′), Sheron, Featherstone, Dieseruvwe

Unused subs: Smith (GK), Mancini, Mathurin, Onariase, Bondswell

Red cards: Dodds (15′)

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley (Humphries, 81′), Vokins, Fernandez (Semenyo, 58′), Francillette, Maguire, Taylor (C), McCallum, Gape (Underhill, 77′), Waruih, Maher

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Hodson, Panter, Boutin

Yellow cards: Brindley (30′), Francillette (85′), Maguire (88′)

Referee: Jamie O’Connor

Attendance: 3,655 (44 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs