Eastleigh suffered a 4-2 defeat against promotion chasers York City despite going into the break with the lead at the Silverlake Stadium.
Skinner’s first-half brace saw the Spitfires go into the break with a 2-1 lead. However, Ollie Pearce’s second goal of the game levelled the scoring. Substitute Craig Hewitt then put the visitors in the driving seat on his debut, with Josh Stone then sealing the deal with a fantastic header to make the score 4-2.
Following the defeat against Sutton United midweek, Scott Bartlett opted to make two changes to the starting XI. Unfortunately, Ciaran McGuckin picked up a knock against the U’s, so he was not in the matchday squad. The Spitfires manager picked Jake Vokins to come into the team to replace him. Angel Waruih also dropped to the bench for Bristol City loanee Skinner. Once again, Lloyd Humphries led the team out of the tunnel after a two-minute remembrance silence took place.
Nick Townsend was called into action twice in the first eight minutes of the game when Pearce had the chance to put the visitors one ahead with a close-range effort.
Despite Pearce getting a good connection on the ball, the Eastleigh goalkeeper denied his header that was going into the bottom right corner brilliantly.
York City then came close again on their very next attack. When the visitors broke well down the left-hand side, Stones dummied the cross into the box brilliantly, which allowed Ollie Banks to send an outside-of-the-boot shot towards the far post. However, Townsend’s outstretched arm kept the scoring level.
In the 13th minute, the Minstermen thought they’d found the breakthrough when Daniel Batty’s corner was flicked onto the back post by Stones. Pearce managed to convert from close range, but his effort was ruled out by the linesman’s flag.
Eastleigh broke into York’s half for the first time in the 22nd minute when Skinner led the charge down the right-hand side. He then picked out a lovely pass to Vokins, but he couldn’t keep the ball in play after his first touch.
Just two minutes later, the visitors were rewarded for their fast start. Following constant pressure, Banks crossed the ball from the right-hand side right into the danger zone. Pearce, who had one ruled out moments earlier, nicked a touch on the ball, leaving Townsend with no chance.
It didn’t take long before the game was back on level terms when the Spitfires broke fantastically down the left-hand side in the 35th minute. Archie Harris whipped in a delicious cross to the back post, where Skinner guided his header past Harrison Male, leaving him with no chance. The loanee’s first goal for the club levelled the score at 1-1.
Less than seven minutes later, Skinner was back at it again. The Spitfires once again countered down the left-hand side. This time it was Harvey Saunders’ blistering pace that allowed him to get free. The striker then played Kieron Evans along the 12-yard box. The Welshman’s sideways pass found Josh Lundstram, who perfectly threaded in Skinner. The 17-year-old took one touch before slotting the ball past Male for his and Eastleigh’s second of the game.
Following a disappointing free-kick on the right side of the field, Felix appeared to be away after getting the better of Vokins in a footrace. However, Richard Brindley produced a superb last-ditch tackle to win the ball and stop the promising attack.
The next real chance of promise didn’t arrive until the 70th minute, but it would be costly for Eastleigh. After scoring once already, Pearce was hungry for a second goal. Alex Hunt the deliverer and Pearce the finisher with a powerful header.
Just three minutes later, Skinner nearly got his hat-trick! The ball fell to him perfectly on the edge of the box, but his low, driven, powerful strike was saved comfortably in the end by Male.
A chance that haunted Eastleigh, as in the 80th minute, York City completed the comeback. After a threatening chance down the left-hand side, the ball fell perfectly for substitute Craig Hewitt, who made no mistake on his debut to make it 3-2.
York City put the game to bed in the 82nd minute when Pearce’s outside-of-the-boot cross was headed on by Stones, looping over the head of Townsend and in to make it 4-2.
With just one minute to go Eastleigh took one last roll of the dice when Humphries released from distance but his effort sailed just over the bar, with the score ending 4-2 to York City at the Silverlake.
Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley (McCallum 85′), Vokins, Humphries, Eweka, Evans, Saunders, Pierre, Lundstram, Skinner (Davis 74′) Harris
Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Fernandez, McCallum, Waruih, Stone, Jones
Yellow Cards: Lundstram 37′
Goals: Skinner 35′ Skinner 43′
York City: Male, Kitching (Fallowfield 78′), Fagan-Walcott, Howe, Hunt, Stones, Pearce (Fadera 86′), Brookes (Hewitt 69′), Batty, Felix (Nathaniel George 69′), Banks
Unused Substitutes: Kenyworthy, Watson, Kettlewell
Yellow Cards: Felix 31′ Banks 50′ Batty 52′
Goals: Pearce 25′ Pearce 70′ Hewitt 80′
Attendance: 2524 (308)
