With a derby that had everything, the Spitfires earned their first three points of the season in a drama filled game at The EBB Stadium.

Eastleigh came out on top in a dramatic Hampshire derby, defeating Aldershot Town 3-2 in a game that had everything — goals, penalties, and a late red card. Aaron Blair’s first goal for the club set the tone before headers from Aaron Pierre and Temi Eweka put the Spitfires in control, but two penalties from Ryan Hill dragged the Shots back into contention. Despite Paul McCallum’s dismissal in the dying moments, Kelvin Davis’ side held firm to claim a memorable derby win at the EBB Stadium.

Kelvin Davis decided to make two changes from the team that faced Gateshead in our first home game last weekend. Angel Wariuh made his first start in the starting XI of the season with Kieron Evans dropping to the bench. Likewise, Luis Fernandez made his first start since coming back from injury in the replace of Louie Holzman mirroring the managers substitute that he made after the first 45 minutes last weekend. Paul McCallum continued to take the armband marking his 150th game for the Spitfires’ as Taylor was left out of the squad.

The Shots threatened first when Temi Eweka was forced into a smart interception to block a dangerous break down the left, conceding a corner. From the resulting set piece, a header was sent over Nick Townsend’s bar before Josh Barrett came even closer a minute later, chesting the ball down on the edge of the area and looping a volley over Townsend — only for the upright to come to Eastleigh’s rescue.

Barrett remained lively and flashed another strike just wide of the far post after cutting in from the left, while at the other end Paul McCallum, making his 150th appearance for the Spitfires, caused problems with his trademark long throws. One such delivery fell to Eweka, but his header was comfortably saved by Ollie Dewhurst.

McCallum then had a golden chance to open the scoring after being slipped through by Josh Lundstram, but the forward was denied by Dewhurst in a one-on-one situation as the goalkeeper got down well to block.

Angel Waruih’s surging run moments later almost carved out another opportunity for Eastleigh but he was brought down for a free kick.  Archie Harris decided to cross rather than shoot and this was dealt with by the Aldershot defence. The home side responded strongly, with Hargreaves driving down the left and cutting the ball back for Barrett, but the striker was crowded out before he could pull the trigger.

The derby continued in end-to-end fashion, with Waruih again breaking forward and sending an effort narrowly wide of the far post, before Eastleigh capitalised on the 30th minute from a defensive error to take the lead on the half-hour mark. A wayward back pass fell kindly to Blair, who showed great composure to race through on goal and slot home his first Spitfires goal, putting Eastleigh 1-0 up.

Aldershot pushed for a leveller before the interval, seeing a penalty appeal waved away when Maxi Mullins’ header struck an Eastleigh body in the box. Eastleigh almost doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time as Waruih broke again down the left-hand side he continued to race into the box then cleverly picked out Lundstram, but with his back to goal the midfielder dragged his low effort narrowly wide.

The whistle soon followed, with the Spitfires taking a 1-0 lead into the break.

Eastleigh made the perfect start to the second half, doubling their lead in the 49th minute. Archie Harris delivered a superb free-kick from the right, and Aaron Pierre rose highest to power his header past Ollie Dewhurst, making it 2-0 in the derby.

The Spitfires thought they had added a third soon after when Josh Lundstram surged forward on the counter and slipped in Paul McCallum, who finished confidently, but the celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag for offside.

Just three minutes later, it was 3! Following a well-placed corner, Temi Eweka climbed above his marker and directed a powerful header beyond the helpless Dewhurst to make it 3-0.

Aldershot were given a lifeline almost immediately. In the 55th minute, Hargreaves drove into the box and was brought down by Luis Fernandez. Ryan Hill stepped up and coolly converted from the penalty spot to pull the score back to 3-1.

Eastleigh came agonisingly close to restoring their three-goal cushion when Aaron Blair’s low cross was met by McCallum inside the six-yard box, but his effort was dramatically cleared off the line by Jed Meerholz.

The hosts struck again in the 73rd minute after being awarded a second penalty, this time when Taylor was fouled right on the edge of the area. Hill once again took responsibility and converted to make it 3-2.

With five minutes remaining, Nick Townsend produced a crucial save to deny substitute Taylor, who cut in from the right and fired low and hard, only for the keeper to turn it away before the danger was cleared.

As the clock ticked into the final minute of normal time, Eastleigh were reduced to ten men when McCallum was shown a red card for a late challenge on Dewhurst. Nine minutes of added time were signalled, and Aldershot came close to levelling in the 94th minute when Keane Anderson’s header flew just wide of the far post from a Ryan Hill cross.

That proved to be the final chance of the game, as Eastleigh held firm to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory in the Hampshire derby.

Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Brindley, Eweka, Pierre, Fernandez, Harris, Cousins, Lundstram, Wariuh (Evans 87′), Blair (Messiah-Edwards 70′), McCallum (C)

Unused substitutes: McNamara, Holzman, Davis, Underhill, Ingram

Yellow Cards: Fernandez 65′

Red Cards: McCallum 89′

Aldershot Town: Dewhurst (GK), Hargreaves (C), Barrett, Anderson (Anderson 55′), Meerholz (Rai 90+3), Hill, Grandeur, Mullins (Taylor 55′), Clarridge, Tetek

Unused substitutes: Nash, Thomas, Lewis-Evans, Abrahams, Watson

Yellow cards: Nightingale 24′ Tetek 58′

Attendance: 2,352 (119)