Loanees Alfie Lloyd and JJ McKiernan were on the scoresheet to help Eastleigh defeat Southend United 3-1 and record just their second away victory of the league campaign.

Lloyd and McKiernan who both agreed deals to remain and return with the Spitfires until the end of the season this week, marked the occasion with goals in a hard-fought victory at Roots Hall Stadium.

The hosts started the stronger dictating most of the possession and striker Harry Cardwell went close to opening the scoring in the second minute heading just wide of the post from Jason Demetriou’s cross.

As the clock ticked towards the 10th minute the Spitfires worked their first opening of the match, when Lloyd’s direct run down the left flank was taken over by Jake Hesketh and the midfielder’s low strike across goal forced the Southend United goalkeeper Blondy Nan Noukeu into a fine stop.

Still the Shrimpers attacked and almost took the lead on the midway mark of the first half when Cavagn Miley’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off an orange shirt and went narrowly wide of the post with Joe McDonnell stranded.

Instead it was Eastleigh’s in-form striker that fired the visitors ahead on the 34th minute. QPR-loanee Lloyd was in the right place at the right time to put the ball in the goal, despite knowing little about the effort.

Corey Panter’s free kick was missed by goalkeeper Noukeu leaving the the goal vacant, the ball fell into the path of Charlie Carter and his low driven effort was cleared off the line straight into Lloyd’s midriff and into the back of the net for his fifth goal in four matches.

A disgruntled crowd were brought into the game by a series of cynical fouls from either side and referee Greg Rollason was forced to bring out a yellow card for each side to try and settle the game down.

Following the break, the lively home fans continued to push the hosts forward and winger Jack Bridge’s solo-run eventually worked himself a yard to shoot from 20 yards out, and his central effort cannoned off the crossbar and out of play.

Soon after a tidy team move from Southend United found Bridge free by the byline, his cross was half cleared by Nigel Atangana before Miley’s strike from an angle was blocked wide.

That chance seemed to spark Eastleigh back into life and Panter’s free-kick from the edge of the box, deflected off the wall and wide of the post with keeper Noukeu committed to the opposite corner.

Following claims for a penalty and a blocked effort from Lloyd, the Spitfires utilised a long throw tactic that Southend United failed to deal with, Charlie Carter was quickest to react and fired into the top right corner from the edge of the six-yard box which doubled Eastleigh’s advantage.

That two-goal lead lasted just five minutes as substitute Rhys Murphy stole in behind and despite Oscar Rutherford’s best attempts to block Murphy’s shot, the ball fell on a plate to Harry Cardwell to slide the ball into the empty net.

Southend threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser but were denied by the brilliant work of Rutherford to prevent Murphy from tapping home from two-yards out.

With five minutes remaining, that pressure left Southend exposed at the back and the goalscorers combined when Lloyd found Carter through on goal from halfway, however, his low effort was well kept out by Noukeu’s feet.

Just a minute later, the two-goal advantage was restored by substitute JJ McKiernan’s fierce effort from the edge of the box that powered through the hands of goalkeeper Noukeu.

The Spitfires were then able to see out the rest of the game to record a valuable second away win of the National League season, which lifts Eastleigh up to ninth, level on points with their opponents and just one point off the play-off positions.

Southend United: Noukeu, Ralph (c), Kensdale, Bridge, Husin, Powell, Taylor, Miley, Lopata, Cardwell, Demetriou. Subs: Scott-Morriss, Hobson, Murphy, Fonguck, Hyde.

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Atangana, Martin (c), Maghoma, Carter, Cisse, Hesketh, Abrahams, Panter, Rutherford, Lloyd. Subs: Flitney, Langston, McKiernan, Harper, Stock

Goals: Alfie Lloyd (34′), Charlie Carter (72′), Harry Cardwell (77′), JJ McKiernan (86′)

Attendance: 5735 (69 away)