An end-to-end game of football saw the Spitfires pick up a point at the Silverlake following Harvey Saunders second-half equaliser to force a 1-1 draw with Solihull Moors. The result sees Scott Bartlett’s side extend their unbeaten run in his first home game as Eastleigh manager. 

Manager Scott Bartlett made several changes from Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory at Truro City, including a debut start for new loanee signing Ciaran McGuckin. Both Temi Eweka and Luis Fernandez were unavailable due to suspension and Richard Brindley and Paul McCallum remained sidelined through injury. Aaron Pierre returned from suspension, whilst Jordan Cousins and Josh Lundstram also returned to the starting XI with Jake Vokins and Angel Waruih dropping to the bench. Second new loanee signing Luke Skinner was also named amongst the substitutes.

Eastleigh started the game on the front foot in the opening exchanges and managed to force a corner after some promising play by Aaron Blair. Jake Taylor then found himself in space but couldn’t capitalise with his header and was unable to test Laurie Walker in the Solihull Moors goal.

Shortly after Ciaran McGuckin released Aaron Blair with an inspired piece of forward passing to pick out the run, but his near-post effort was saved by the Moors’ shot-stopper, who had managed to tip the shot behind for another corner with eight minutes on the clock.

Ciaran McGuckin then came agonisingly close to a debut goal after a wonderful delivery into the box courtesy of Sonnie Davis, who picked him out from a set-piece. His header had forced Walker into a smart stop to deny a perfect start for the Rotherham United loanee.

The visitors’ first attack of note came from Oscar Rutherford as he produced some skill on the edge of the box to find some space to shoot; however, his attempt was easily caught by Nick Townsend, who ended up making a routine save.

Sonny Davis robbed the Moors of possesion on the right-hand side before bearing down on goal with a solo run that was dealt with at the second time of asking. Harvey Saunders then followed that up by charging down the man between the sticks who was slow to clear his lines, as the ball rebounded off him and behind for a goal kick.

The home side was looking for all intents and purposes the more likely side to open the scoring as the game approached half-time, as Eastleigh’s Aaron Blair again went searching for the go-ahead goal, but his attempt ended up flying over the crossbar as referee Kirsty Doyle called time on the first half, which ended goalless.

Soon after the second half had commenced, the visitors produced a sucker punch in the form of a Jacob Wakeling strike, as he was able to find the back of the net from inside the area with a smart finish. Eastleigh responded well to the disappointment of going behind and almost had their equaliser as Ciaran McGuckin found himself in space, but his effort was miraculously deflected over the bar by some last-ditch defending from the Moors defence.

Luke Skinner was then introduced for the Spitfires for his debut after Aaron Blair pulled up injured. An out-swinging set piece from the home side soon after caused carnage in the Solihull Moors box, but somehow the home side couldn’t find an equaliser.

The Spitfires deservedly found an equaliser in the 69th minute as Archie Harris’ delightful cross found Harvey Saunders, who headed in to level things up and get the Silverlake Stadium on its feet.

Sensing the game could be there for the taking, Scott Bartlett made a double change straight after bringing on Jake Vokins and Kieron Evans for goalscorer Harvey Saunders and captain Jake Taylor. Opportunities kept coming for the home side as Luke Skinner’s remarkable run on the  counter-attack almost gave them their go-ahead goal, but the substitute was unable to produce the finish that his effort deserved.

Townsend would then come to the rescue with a few minutes left in the match to deny victory for the visitors, using his legs to prevent the first-time Moors’ shot. The last effort of note fell to Eastleigh’s Archie Harris, whose attempt was somehow cleared off the line after looking destined to hit the back of the net.

This was the last notable action of the game as Scott Bartlett’s first home game in charge ended in a 1-1 draw.

Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Humphries, Taylor (C) (Evans 70′), McGuckin (Waruih 84′), Blair (Skinner 57′), Saunders (Vokins 70′), Pierre, Lundstram, Davis, Cousins, Harris

Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Holzman, Underhill

Goals: Saunders 69′

Yellow Cards: Taylor 28′, Vokins 81′

Solihull Moors: Walker (GK), Clarke, Green, Osborne (C) (Tipton 46′), Whitmore, McFarlane (Whyte-Hall 61′), Worman, Wakeling, Rutherford, French, Stevenson (Bowen 86′)

Unused Substitutes: Nicholson, Lipsiuc, Jackson

Goals: Wakeling 47′

Yellow Cards: Green 51′, Whyte-Hall 66′

Attendance: 2358 (82 away)