A fantastic defensive display saw the Spitfires earn a point against the league leaders, Barnet, at The Hive.

Eastleigh opened the scoring through Paul McCallum in the 36th minute of the game, following a tightly contested start to things in the capital.

Barnet came up with a response just a few minutes before half-time, with Danny Collinge managing to find the back of the net for the home side to make things level going into the interval.

The second-half saw a lot of strong defending from Eastleigh, which would see them go on to pick up a hard-fought point.

McCallum came into the starting lineup, in place of Chris Maguire who was named on the bench. Jake Vokins returned to the match day squad for the first time since November, following an extended period away from the pitch due to injury.

Eastleigh’s first chance of the game came in the 13th minute. Tyrese Shade darted down the right flank, before drilling a cross into towards Nathan Tshikuna, who was waiting in the area. Unfortunately, Tshikuna was unable to get any proper contact on the ball, and could not direct it towards the target.

Idris Kanu then fired the ball into a dangerous area, but did not have any of his teammates there to meet his cross, meaning the ball would sail away from the danger zone.

In the 36th minute, Barnet made an error in their own half, and Shade was there to capitalise. A misplaced pass back to Owen Evans was pounced on by Shade, he would then square the ball to McCallum who blasted the ball into the back of the net to give Eastleigh the lead of the game.

In response to the goal, the home side forced Joe McDonnell into making a diving save to deny them from getting back on level terms, with a shot from outside of the box.

Just before the break, Barnet would go on to level the scoring. Collinge would find the back of the net with a headed effort, meaning the two sides would be locked together at the break.

Barnet had the first crack on goal of the second-half just before the hour mark. Reece Browne chopped inside before curling a shot low towards goal. McDonnell was on hand to deny him, and got across goal well to parry the ball away.

McDonnell was tested again in the 73rd minute. Harry Chapman blasted a shot towards goal, but McDonnell was there again to deny the hosts from taking the lead of the game.

Barnet continued to mount pressure on the Eastleigh goal, with Chapman having another go on goal in the 85th minute. His blocked shot bounced up to McDonnell who did well and reacted quickly to palm the ball away from goal.

The Spitfires efforts were rewarded with a point, after holding out despite a late onslaught from the home side.

Barnet: Evans (GK), Collinge, Browne, Stead, Kanu (Chapman, 65′), Glover (Telford, 82′), Brunt (Ndlovu, 62′), Hartigan (C), Shelton, Oluwo, Tavares

Unused subs: Bellagambi (GK), Coker, Clifford, Grimwood

Goals: Collinge (44′)

Yellow cards: Chapman (90+4′)

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Fernandez, Francillette, Taylor (C) (Waruih, 45+2′), McCallum (Maguire, 82′), Shade, Hodson (Semenyo, 88′), Panter, Boutin (Vokins, 90+2′), Close, Tshikuna (Humphries, 64′)

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Underhill

Goals: McCallum (36′)

Yellow cards: Panter (25′), Boutin, (28′), Taylor (43′), McCallum (54′)

Referee: Ross Martin

Attendance: 3,065 (117 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs