Eastleigh come away from Brunton Park with a 1-1 draw after making the most of their chances, whilst defending brilliantly throughout the game. The Spitfires took a vital point back to SO50 after Kieron Evans scored a wonderful 89th minute equaliser!

Eastleigh found themselves 1-0 down in the 50th minute due to a Junior Luamba goal however they were never out of the game. They persevered until the final whistle went and was rewarded for their resilience when Evans finished beautifully from close range.

Scott Bartlett made two changes to the team that suffered a 4-2 defeat against York City at the Silverlake last weekend. With Luke Skinner being recalled to Bristol City, the arrival of Sam Pearson came at the perfect timing for the Welshman to make his debut against Carlisle. The Spitfires’ captain today made his first league start since suffering an injury against Wealdstone back in September. Despite this, Paul McCallum did score a brace in a 45-minute cameo in the Hampshire Cup midweek; he replaced Archie Harris, who is on international duty with Wales U21’s.

The first chance of the game came via Regan Linney who latched onto a long ball forward and appeared to be in on goal, however a last-ditch tackle from Richard Brindley evaded the attack.

Harvey Macadam was then able to let fly for the first time just five minutes later when he picked up the ball and let off a shot from 30 yards out, but his effort didn’t find the target.

Eastleigh had their first promising attack in the 13th minute when debutant Pearson beat his man and played in Josh Lundstram. The midfielder fired a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box, but it was dealt with before Harvey Saunders could latch onto it.

With the scoring still 0-0, Carlisle had a golden chance to go one up in the 20th minute when a corner fell perfectly for Aaron Hayden, who was unable to divert the ball goal wards, wasting the chance.

They had an even better chance just three minutes later when Georgie Kelly got the better of Aaron Pierre in the air. The striker managed to bring the ball down and just had Nick Townsend to beat. However, the striker’s effort was tipped over the bar by the outstretched Eastleigh keeper.

It started to become one-way traffic as the hosts were throwing everything at Eastleigh to get a goal; however, the Spitfires stayed resolute and defended well.

The biggest scare for the Spitfires came just before the 40th minute when Kelly’s header smashed the left post after a great delivery from the right-hand side. The Blues were getting close but were just missing the finishing touch.

Seconds before half-time, Kelly once again had another header from close range, but once again the striker’s header did not find the back of the net as it sailed over.

This was the last chance of the half as the two teams went in with it all to play for in the second half.

After a tough first half for the visitors, Eastleigh nearly struck within the first two minutes of the half when the ball fell to an unmarked Lloyd Humphries at the edge of the box. His shot, which was heading goalwards, was blocked and hit the side netting.

From the resulting corner, he very nearly scored again! The Spitfires opted to play it short, and Evans’ cross was met by the head of Humphries, but his effort went just wide of the right post.

The deadlock was then broken in the 50th minute when Carlisle hit Eastleigh on the counter-attack. Conn-Clarke broke forward and pulled it back to Luamba, whose low and hard shot found the back of the net.

Thirteen minutes later, it was still all Carlisle. Despite already having the goal advantage, they were determined to get another. Shots from both goalscorer Luamba and Kelly came close, but they both didn’t manage to keep their efforts on target.

After suffering all game, Eastleigh’s first real chance of the game came in the 88th minute. The Spitfires only needed one chance too. A lovely one-two between Humphries and Evans saw the Welshman in on goal with just Breeze to beat, and Evans did exactly that as he slotted it away brilliantly.

Eastleigh then very nearly got another one, which would have completed the ultimate smash and grab! Humphries played in McGuckin, who took the ball out wide and played Saunders, who was unable to get his shot off as his efforts were blocked off.

Despite this, it was Carlisle that got the last sniff on goal when substitute Luke Armstrong was clean through on goal with just one minute of additional time left. The striker’s effort appeared to beat Townsend but not the far-right post.

After the hosts failed to capitalise on a big, final chance, the contest came to an end with both teams earning a point.

Carlisle: Breeze, Harper, Feeny, Kelly (Armstrong 82′), Linney, Luamba, Gilliead, Williams, Macadam (Ellis 82′), Conn-Clarke (Wearne 84′)

Unused Substitutes: Lewis, Davies, Whelan, Grant

Yellow Cards: Luamba 69′

Goals: Luamba 50′

Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley, Vokins, Humphries, Eweka, Evans, McCallum (McGuckin 77′), Saunders, Pierre, Lundstram, Pearson

Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Fernandez, Waruih, Davis, Stones, Whitehead

Yellow Cards: Eweka 42′ Brindley 44′

Goals: Evans 89′

Attendance: 10,860 (85)

Report by Ed Groves