The Spitfires were held to a draw by relegation-threatened Aldershot Town in a six-goal thriller in what was an entertaining derby day clash.

The first chance of derby day fell the way of the hosts on the 6th minute when after Alfie Lloyd squared the ball to Gerry McDonagh who fired his shot straight to a grateful Luca Ashby-Hammond.

Five minutes later, the deadlock was broken courtesy of a Charlie Carter goal who fired home after a layoff from Danny Whitehall who showed great composure.

Just seven minutes on and the Spitfires extended their lead against the fellow-Hampshire side.

It was Whitehall again providing quality service for his teammates when his perfectly-weighted free-kick found the head of Ousseynou Cissé who found the back of the net with his bullet header.

Aldershot responded quickly when Jack Barham did what he always seems to do against Eastleigh -cause trouble.

Their new signing fired an effort off the post and into Joe McDonnell’s goal to pull one back for the visitors.

McDonnell was forced into action again not long after but was able to keep the Aldershot attacker out from 10-yards.

The Spitfires provided an increased amount of pressure in the hope of restoring their two-goal cushion and did just that when Gerry McDonagh opened his Eastleigh account and slotted his shot past the outstretched bodies.

A warning shot came just before the break when Jack Barham found the back of the net again but for it to be ruled out for offside.

Rutherford almost scored early into the second-half when a quick-break on the counter ended in Ashby-Hammond being able to parry it out for a corner.

Two minutes later, the visitors pulled one back again. This time it was Corey Jordan who fired his effort on the turn into the far corner to unsettle the Spitfires.

Tyler Cordner forced McDonnell into action with a brilliant fingertip save to deny him from range in the 55th-minute.

Five minutes later, Lloyd should’ve scored after he rounded the goalkeeper but fired well over the empty net.

Just past the hour mark, Ryan Glover was played in behind before he fired a powerful effort just over from a tight angle.

A minute later, McDonagh fired a ball across the face of goal but it went across untouched by an attacking player.

With ten minutes to play, Jack Barham went down in the box under the challenge of Christian Maghoma but all appeals were waved away by the referee.

In the 87th-minute, Aldershot found an equaliser through Tahvon Campbell who headed in from a dangerous cross.

Attendance: 3,553 (570 away)

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Maghoma, Carter, Cissé (C), Whitehall, Langston, McKiernan, Harper, Rutherford, Lloyd, McDonagh

Subs: Kelly, Atangana, Martin, Hill, Mitchell

Aldershot Town: Ashby-Hammond, Harfield, Partington (C), Cordner, Amaluzor, Campbell, Jordan, Ochieng, Mnoga, Glover, Barham

Subs: Kenlock, McQuoid, Rowe, Hutchinson, Klass

Goals: Carter (11′), Cissé (19′), Barham (23′), McDonagh (44′), Jordan (51′), Campbell (87′)