Eastleigh fell to a 2-1 defeat against Maidenhead United in our penultimate pre-season friendly at York Road.

The Spitfires took the lead through Aaron Blair’s composed finish in the first half, but a strong second-half showing from the hosts saw them level with a long-range strike before capitalising on their numerical advantage to net a late winner through Liam Dulson.

The Spitfires manager Kelvin Davis fielded an experimental side, including four trialists in the starting XI, one of which played the full 90 minutes in goal.

The game sparked into life early on through a brilliantly worked counter-attack, starting with Aaron Pierre intercepting a Maidenhead move deep in Spitfires’ territory. Trialist D’s quick footwork and sharp passing exchanges with Connor Underhill helped drive the play forward before Freddie Ingram found space on the edge of the box, though his effort failed to trouble Jordi van Stappershoef.

Eastleigh pressed forward again moments later, as Ingram turned provider. His pass found Aaron Blair with his back to goal, who did well to spin and fire a low cross towards Jake Taylor, but our captain’s shot was comfortably gathered by the Maidenhead keeper.

A slip from Jordan Raugguette soon gifted Blair another opportunity, as he surged clear down the right. Opting for the unselfish route, he squared the ball to Ingram, whose left-footed strike was well saved and pushed to safety.

The visitors created their best chance of the half on 20 minutes when Liam Dulson beat his man down the left flank and drove into the area, but his effort was bravely blocked.

The breakthrough came just after the half-hour mark. A defence-splitting pass played Blair through on goal, and the striker made no mistake, showing great composure to slot the ball beyond the goalkeeper and give Eastleigh a deserved lead.

The first real chance of the second half came in the 55th minute, as Maidenhead pieced together a well-worked move that ended with Asher Yearwood rising for a close-range header, which drifted just wide of the far post.

Yearwood threatened again shortly after, sliding in at the back post to meet a low cross from the right, but he couldn’t make the decisive connection to bring the visitors level.

Maidenhead continued to apply pressure and came within inches of an equaliser when a cross-turned-shot from Raguette caught everyone off guard, rattling the woodwork as Eastleigh held on to their lead.

Maidenhead did eventually equal the scoring when Harry Pritchard caught sight of goal from outside the box, the midfielder’s low-driven shot beat the outstretched Eastleigh goalkeeper to his right hand side.

With ten minutes remaining, Eastleigh were reduced to ten-men after striker Paul McCallum was shown a straight red card for a high foot.

Maidenhead looked to take immediate advantage, forcing Trialist A into a sharp save at his near post from close range.

Their pressure eventually told with just three minutes left on the clock, as Liam Dulson fired home to complete the turnaround and give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

The Magpies came close to adding a third in stoppage time, but Eastleigh were spared by the woodwork when Jadyn Dundas’ strike rattled the frame of the goal, keeping the score at 2-1.

Eastleigh: Trialist A (Gk), Trialist C, Killick, Pierre (Fernandez 45′), Trialst B (Eweka), Underhill (Brindely 60′), Taylor (C) (Cousins 68′), Waruih (Lunstrum 68′), Trialist D (St Vincent 85′), Ingram (Evans 59′)  Blair ( Mccalum 59′)

Unused Subs: Townsend, Michel

Red Cards: Paul McCallum (79′)

Yellow Cards: Evans (85′)

Maidenhead: Jordri Van Sappershoef (Gk) , Bartley, Ragguette, Havilland (C) (Clerima 61′), Yearwood, Pritchard (Dundas 89′), Umerah (Lawson 69′), Dulson, Cochrane (Ferdinand 61′), Popoola (Andrews 69′), Onarise