Our 2024/25 Vanarama National League campaign draws to a close, following a defeat to York City at the Silverlake Stadium.

The away side found the back of the net twice early on, and would go on to see out the result well against the Spitfires.

There was two changes from the Eastleigh side that drew against Woking at the Laithwaite Community Stadium last time out. Jake Taylor and Nathan Tshikuna came into the side in place of Paul McCallum and Ben Close. York were unchanged from their win over Solihull Moors in their last match.

Early on, Richard Brindley was brought down just outside the area, leaving Chris Maguire in a promising looking position with the free kick. His shot did not quite manage to dip it’s way over the York wall, and was deflected away for a corner which resulted in nothing.

Following this, Jake Vokins had an ambitious pop on goal from range. He took it on the volley, but was unable to keep his shot down, and would see the ball go over the crossbar.

In the 16th minute, Ollie Pearce found the bottom left corner of the net to put his side ahead. Five minutes later, Cameron John was slipped in behind the defence to double York’s lead of the game.

After the goals, Joe McDonnell produced a fine stop to deny Tyrese Sinclair, who cut in before blasting the ball towards the top corner of the goal. After McDonnell had palmed the ball away from goal, Pearce got on the rebound but was unable to find the target with his close range effort.

The visitors looked set to add a third goal to their tally in the 38th minute, but Luis Fernandez was there to deny Sinclair with a big block.

The last real chance of the first half fell to Malachi Fagan-Walcott at the back post, who hit the ball towards goal well, but would see his shot get matched by a strong hand from McDonnell.

The Spitfires started the second half in a positive way, and came just inches away from pulling a goal back in the 57th minute. Nathan Tshikuna chopped his way into the box, before whacking the ball towards goal. His shot would go marginally wide of the target.

For the next 20 minutes or, neither team really looked like scoring. With just over ten minutes remaining, Dipo Akinyemi curled a shot just wide to the right of the target, in attempt to extend York’s lead of the game.

Junior Luamba then had a header at the back post a couple of minutes later, but directed his shot straight into the floor, before it bounced it’s way over the target.

During the seven minutes of added time, Eastleigh pushed for a goal, but were unable to find one meaning our 2024/25 National League campaign would end in defeat.

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley (Semenyo, 71′), Vokins, Fernandez (Humphries, 57′), Francillette, Maguire (McCallum, 77′), Taylor (C) (Underhill, 77′), Shade, Waruih, Panter, Tshikuna

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Hodson, Boutin

Yellow cards: Taylor (34′), Panter (86′)

York City: Male (GK) (Watson (GK), 65′), Crookes, Howe (C), Sinclair (Akinyemi, 65′), Hunt, Pearce (Stones, 75′), Nathaniel-George, Richardson (Luamba, 65′), John, Felix, Fagan-Walcott (Batty, 65′)

Unused subs: John-Lewis, Armstrong

Goals: Pearce (16′), John (21′)

Yellow cards: Sinclair (17′), Akinyemi (84′), Nathaniel-George (90′)

Referee: Ryan Atkin

Attendance: TBC

Report by Matthew Gibbs