The Spitfires unbeaten run comes to an end, following a narrow defeat against Braintree Town.

The home side took and early lead. Following a blocked effort, the ball trickled out to the edge of the box and into the path of Marley Marshall-Miranda, and he found the roof of the net to put his side ahead.

Matthew Robinson then tested Joe McDonnell moments later, in an attempt to build on his sides fast start. McDonnell would tip the ball over the goal top deny Braintree.

The next chance of the game came in the 11th minute, and it was the hosts again that had an attempt on goal. Jermaine Francis received a pass from Ryan Clampin, before unleashing a shot that would get blocked by the Eastleigh defence.

Tyrell Lisbie broke through on goal in the 14th minute, as Braintree continued to put pressure on the Eastleigh goal. McDonnell would hold firm, and deny the Braintree attackers low-driven effort well.

In the 25th minute, Robinson was unable to find the target with a shot from the middle of the area, after he was found by a cross.

Just after the half hour mark, substitutem, Jesurun Uchegbulam ran round Aidan Francis-Clarke and sent a dangerous looking cross into the box, which would be cleared out for a corner which came to nothing.

Uchegbulam would then go on to have the next chance on goal, but fired the ball over the crossbar. This went on to be the last chance of the half, with Braintree going into the break with the lead.

The first chance of the second-half came just after the hour mark, with Richard Brindley having a go from the edge of the box. His shot was blocked, and went out for a corner which was cleared away by the Braintree defence.

Uchegbulam tested Henry Gray in the 68th minute with a shot from a difficult angle. The Braintree ‘keeper got down low to deflect the ball away from the target.

Moments after coming onto the pitch, Connor Underhill came close to making an instant impact. He chopped his way through a couple of Braintree defenders, before firing a shot just over the crossbar.

With just less than ten minutes remaining, Ryan Clampin was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for simulation.

With a few minutes to go, Francis cut into the Eastleigh box and had a go on goal, but saw his shot get blocked. This went on to be the final chance of the game, as Eastleigh went on to lose on their travels.

Braintree Town: Gray (GK), Clampin, Langston (C), Annesley, Blackwell (Pinnington, 64′), Marshall-Miranda, Akinde, Lisbie (Cooper, 79′), Robinson, Francis-Clarke, Francis

Unused subs: Vennings, Judge, Okunowo

Goals: Marshall-Miranda (3′)

Yellow cards: Clampin (76′)

Red cards: Clampin (82′)

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley (Hodson, 62′), Fernandez (Maguire, 30′), Francillette, Taylor (C), Shade, Waruih (Underhill, 79′), Quigley (Uchegbulam, 18′), Boutin (Panter, 49′), Close, Maher

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Humphries

Yellow cards: Fernandez (20′), Francillette (42′), Panter (58′), Taylor (82′)

Referee: Alan Dale

Attendance: 910

Report by Matthew Gibbs