Eastleigh extended their home unbeaten run to six games and climbed to sixth in the Vanarama National League table with a 3-2 win over Altrincham.
Lee Bradbury’s side burst into a 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes before Jordan Hulme pulled a goal back for the visitors in the first half.
Eddy Jones scored an injury-time goal for Altrincham after Christian Maghoma had restored the Spitfires two-goal lead in the second half.
The game exploded into action in the sixth minute as an error at the back saw Eastleigh take a fortuitous lead.
James Jones’ pass back to his own box caught his goalkeeper Oliver Byrne off-guard and the ball rolled into the net.
However, there was nothing fortunate about Eastleigh’s second goal four minutes later.
Some fantastic interplay from Charlie Carter and Danny Whitehall saw Carter through down the left, he squared for Kairo Mitchell to convert from close range for his first Spitfires goal.
After falling two goals behind Altrincham enjoyed a spell of possession as they tried to kill the free-scoring Spitfires’ momentum.
Eastleigh almost made it 3-0 on 22 minutes when JJ McKiernan headed an excellent Michael Kelly cross just over from close range.
Just before the half-hour mark, Altrincham made their pressure count as another stroke of fortune saw the visitors halve the deficit through Hulme.
McDonnell saved a rasping strike from Jones but the rebound fell straight into the path of the Robins captain and bounced into an empty net.
Phil Parkinson’s side soon came close to drawing level when E. Jones’ corner sailed just past the outstretched boot of J. Jones.
It was then the hosts’ turn to go an inch from scoring, Kelly delivered another inch-perfect cross but Whitehall flicked the ball agonisingly wide of the mark.
E. Jones came close to equalising when his miss-hit cross bounced past the post on 52 minutes as the quick-paced action continued in the second half.
Eastleigh continued to probe for a third and Whitehall went close when he headed just wide from a corner.
With 15 minutes to go, Christan Maghoma headed home Kelly’s corner to restore Eastleigh’s two-goal lead, opening his account for the season.
It was a well-deserved assist for Kelly who continued to deliver inch-perfect crosses all afternoon.
Eastleigh had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee Sam Mulhall when JJ McKiernan was brought down by a Robins defender on 79 minutes.
Altrincham did pull a goal back in additional time through E. Jones, however, the Spitfires held on to continue their unbeaten home run.
Eastleigh: McDonnell, Rutherford, Martin (C), Langston, Kelly, Maghoma, Cisse, McKiernan, Carter, Mitchell, Whitehall.
Subs: Camp, Hill, Harper, Scrimshaw, McDonagh
Altrincham: Byrne, E. Jones, Marriott, Ferguson, Baines, Lundstram, Hulme (C), Osborne, J. Jones, Oyedele, Hugill
Subs: Pringle, Bennerr, Linney, Perritt, Sinclair
Attendance: 2,045 (47 away)
Report by George Rees-Julian
