Eastleigh were victors again after a convincing win against Morecambe, the Spitfires’ went two goals up and despite conceding late on managed to secure all three points.

A tense battle in the opening half saw the game goalless however, The Spitfires’ would capitalise on fouls in the second-half scoring a free kick and a penalty from Lloyd Humphries and Ciaran McGurkin respectively.

Following the midweek draw against Scunthorpe, Scott Bartlett made two changes to his starting lineup. Lloyd Humphries and Luke Skinner were both handed starts after impressing off the bench earlier in the week, with Luis Fernandez and Angel Waruih making way.

It was a cagey affair to begin with Eastleigh starting brightly, pressing high and looking to dictate the tempo, but the first real opportunity fell to the visitors when Joe Nuttall tried his luck from 25 yards, forcing Nick Townsend into a comfortable save. The Spitfires responded quickly, with Richard Brindley slipping in Ciaran McGuckin, though the striker could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Morecambe threatened again just inside 15 minutes as they played out from the back, breaking the Eastleigh press leading to a ball from ex-Spitfire Lewis Payne aimed at the back post. However, some excellent defending from 17-year-old Skinner allowed the home side to clear their lines.

Eastleigh went close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes when Josh Lundstram’s pinpoint cross found McGuckin on the volley, but his effort flew narrowly over the bar.

The away side started to find the feet in the final 15 minutes of the first half as they kept creating chances but couldn’t quite find the breakthrough they were looking for.

The best opportunity of the opening period arrived just before the interval. Eastleigh carved through the Morecambe defence as Lundstram surged into the box, only to be pulled back as he prepared to shoot. The referee played advantage, and the ball fell to McGuckin, whose strike beat Jamal Blackman but was dramatically cleared off the line by loanee Maldini Kacurri—keeping the game goalless at half-time.

The second half began at a high tempo, with both sides posing an early threat. Archie Harris was involved at both ends of the pitch first delivering a dangerous ball into the Morecambe box before making an important block to deny a chance at the other end. Moments later, the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock when Elijah Dixon-Bonner found space on the edge of the area, but his curling effort fizzed narrowly wide of the post.

Eastleigh broke the deadlock soon after. A foul by Payne on Harvey Saunders just outside the box handed the hosts a promising free kick, and Lloyd Humphries made no mistake, smashing a stunning strike into the top right corner to score his first goal of the season.

Scott Bartlett’s men almost instantly doubled their lead after youngster, Skinner found space just outside the box but his low strike went just wide.

Eastleigh continued to press for a second goal, with Harvey Saunders winning possession high up the pitch. His inventive backheel was cleared only as far as Skinner, who drove into the box but saw his low effort well saved by Jamal Blackman.

Morecambe nearly found an equaliser soon after when Payne burst down the right and delivered a dangerous cross towards Joe Nuttall, but The Spitfires’ defence stood firm to clear the danger once again.

McGuckin continued to cause problems for the visitors, dispossessing the Morecambe back line and charging forward from halfway before being brought down by former Eastleigh defender Ludwig Francilette. The striker made no mistake from the spot, calmly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and placing his penalty into the bottom-right corner, his second goal in as many games.

The game was brought to a nervy end as the ball fell to Morecambe’s Benjamin Lee Tollitt inside the box just inside 90 minutes, the substitute managed to fire home and half the deficit.

The visitors almost drew level immediately after as a corner came in from Jake Cain, Francillette leapt above everyone but his header flew wide of the post.

It was a stellar performance from Lloyd Humphries who earned himself the player of the match award after scoring and continually putting his body on the line to put an end to Morecambe’s attacks.

The away side had a chance right at the death but Tollitt’s volley flew over the bar confirming the three points for Scott Bartlett’s men.

Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Brindley (Davis 86′), Humphries, Eweka, Taylor (C), McGuckin (Evans 90+4′), Saunders, Lundstram, Skinner (Vokins 77′), Cousins, Harris

Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Pierre, Waruih, Stone

Goals: Humphries 51′, McGuckin 73′

Yellow Cards: Eweka 90′

Morecambe: Blackman (GK), Payne, Kacurri, Francillette, Edwards (C) (Aarons 48′), Azeez, Cain, Williams (Sangare 82′), Nuttall (Muskwe 74′), Dixon-Bonner (Thomas 74′), Nolan (Tollitt 74′)

Unused Substitutes: Mare, Songo’o

Goals: Tollitt 90′

Yellow Cards: Payne 50′, Francillette 72′, Sangare 86′

Attendance: 2533 (141)