Following a tightly contested match, the Spitfires are beaten in the capital by Sutton United.
A game of fine margins saw Will Davies score the only goal of the day from the spot in the 60th minute.
lt took around five minutes for the first shot of the game to come. The home side sent a low-driven cross into the box, which was met by Davies who looped an effort just over the bar.
Following this, the Spitfires produced a lovely bit of play to get their first look on goal of the afternoon. After winning the ball back in the attacking third, Jesurun Uchebuglam and Jake Taylor linked up with a couple of quick passes, before the ball was laid into the path of Rekeil Pyke. The striker was left with a tight angle when he got his shot off, and could not find the target.
Lewis Simper had the next chance of the game. In the 17th minute, he broke into the Eastleigh box, but couldn’t get a solid connection on his shot, as he saw the ball trickle into the hands of McDonnell.
Josh Coley blasted a shot just over the crossbar just before the 40th minute, following an extended period of end to end football.
Not so long after that, Besart Topallaj came inches away from giving Sutton the lead of the game. He curled a shot towards goal from the edge of the goal, which struck the crossbar with pace before being cleared away from danger.
Moments before the break, Niall Maher was taken down in the box by Jack Taylor, to give Eastleigh a big chance to take the lead. Chris Maguire stepped up to take the penalty, but was unable to beat an outstretched Jack Sims, meaning the score would remain level going into the break.
After the break, the home side were given a chance of their own from the spot. Davies made no mistake, and found the middle of the net to give Sutton the lead of the game.
Jake Taylor tried to provide Eastleigh with a quick response, after having a go on goal from the edge of the box in the 65th minute. But, he could not find the target.
From here, both sides would continue to push for goals, but were unable to have any big chances, meaning the Spitfires would be forced into defeat.
Sutton United: Sims (GK), French (C), Coley, Simper, Davies, De Silva (Sandat, 67′), Vaz, Barbrook, Taylor, Woodyard (Odelusi, 67′), Topallaj
Unused subs: Evans (GK), Muller, Boateng, Badham, Kirk
Goals: Davies (P) (60′)
Yellow cards: Barbrook (85′), Vaz (89′)
Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley, Humphries, Francillette, Maguire, Taylor (C), Uchegbulam (Underhill, 64′), Waruih, Boutin (Semenyo, 78′), Pyke (Ryan, 88′), Maher
Unused subs: Scott (GK), Fernandez, Hodson
Yellow cards: Maguire (45+1′), Brindley (68′), Francillette (90′)
Referee: Greg Rollason
Attendance: 2,526 (120 away)
Report by Matthew Gibbs