Eastleigh fell to defeat after a goal from the penalty spot for Ryan Haynes was enough to give Brackley Town all three points on the opening day of the season.

Paul McCallum took the captain’s armband for Eastleigh’s opening game of the season against Brackley Town, with regular skipper Jake Taylor sidelined through injury. Louie Holzman was selected in the starting XI to replace the injured Luis Fernandez, while Archie Harris filled in at left-back in the absence of Jake Vokins.

Brackley carved out the first opportunity of the match when Ryan Haynes delivered a cross from the left that found Connor Hall, but the striker’s header sailed over the bar.

At the other end, Temi Eweka showed great awareness to snuff out a dangerous Brackley break. He intercepted the ball before turning defence into attack with a perfectly weighted pass down the line for McCallum. The attacker raced onto it but was unable to deliver a telling cross into the box.

Eastleigh continued to threaten, twice testing Brackley goalkeeper Cameron Gregory with close-range headers. First, Aaron Pierre met a long throw that wasn’t properly cleared, and then Kieron Evans rose to meet a dangerous cross, but both efforts were straight at the ‘keeper.

Brackley almost broke the deadlock on the counter when Michael Nottingham slid a pass through to Connor Hall, who squared for Matt Lowe, but Nick Townsend produced an excellent save to keep the scores level.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 38th minute after a long throw wasn’t cleared and Josh Lundstram was adjudged to have fouled his man in the box. Shane Byrne stepped up, and confidently converted from the spot to give Brackley the lead.

Eastleigh had a golden chance to respond just a minute later when Aaron Blair raced through on goal, but his low effort was saved by Gregory – the final action of the first half.

The Spitfires started the brighter of the two sides after the restart, earning a free-kick in a promising crossing position. However, the delivery towards the back post failed to produce an attempt on goal.

Brackley came within inches of doubling their lead soon after, but heroic defending from Temi Eweka saw him block a close-range effort off the line following a goalmouth scramble.

At the other end, Eastleigh had a scramble of their own inside the Brackley box, but the loose ball eventually ran behind for a corner, which the Saints dealt with comfortably.

Townsend then came to Eastleigh’s rescue once again, producing a superb save to deny Matt Lowe after the forward latched onto a long ball from his goalkeeper and went one-on-one.

With five minutes remaining, Townsend was called into action yet again, tipping over a powerful long-range strike from Morgan Roberts to keep the score at 1-0.

Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Brindley, Eweka, Pierre, Holzman (Davis 66′), Harris, Cousins, Lundstram (Waruih 90′) Evans (Underhill 76′), Blair, McCallum (C)

Unused Substitutes: McNamara (GK), Ingram, Killick, Michel

Yellow cards: Richard Brindley 41′, Aaron Pierre 80′

Brackley Town: Gregory (GK), Morrison, Dean (C),Brown, Roberts, Lowe (Pollock 90′), Nottingham, Lily, Bryce, Hall, Haynes (Calder 83′)

Unused Substitutes:  Maxted (GK) Donate, Waldron, Little

Goals: Shane Byrne 39′

Yellow cards: Zak Lily 52′

Attendance: 1201 (208 away)