Eastleigh climbed into the Vanarama Conference play-off places with two games left tonight as they defeated FC Halifax Town 2-0 at the Shay in their most vital win of the season yet.

The Spitfires jumped up two places into fourth, above Forest Green Rovers and Macclesfield, as an own-goal from Marc Roberts and James Constable’s sublime lob catapults Richard Hill’s side to within four points of a play-off spot.

Eastleigh made two changes from the 3-1 home win over Alfreton on Saturday as they recorded their first clean-sheet in nine games.

Craig McAllister came in for benched Brian Howard in attack while Will Evans replaced Paul Reid, who wasn’t in the travelling squad.

Halifax, meanwhile, were without top-scorers, ten-goal Scott Boden and Lois Maynard, who’s netted 12 this term.

Bringing in Evans at centre back looked an inspired move by manager Richard Hill as he and partner Jamie Turley were able to deal, alongside full-backs Joe Partington and Dan Spence, effectively with the quick Town attack throughout.

Shaymen forwards Jamie Jackson, Jack Muldoon and Matty Pearson were all looking for runs through, but the Spitfires backline and keeper Ross Flitney were always alert to their plans.

Indeed, it was a professional first period display by Eastleigh as not once did they gift Halifax a clear chance at goal.

The visitors attacked mainly on the break, with Jai Reason impressing from dead-ball situations – the first of which led to Roberts’s own-goal on seven minutes.

The Halifax captain rose highest to clear away the danger from just outside the six-yard box as Reason swung in from the right, with the skipper’s header outwitting diving keeper Matt Glennon into the top left.

Three minutes later Reason zipped in another hot-delivery from a corner, which James Constable could only stab over at the near-post.

The second period was dull. Zilch happened for ages.

But, in all fairness, Constable’s sumptuous goal would have more than made every second of the five hour journey to Yorkshire worth it for the 46 travelling fans.

On 59 minutes McAllister fed in the striker into the right of the box and the ex-Oxford United man was hunted down by keeper Glennon as he entered the area.

Then, with his barefaced cheek dial turned to maximum, Constable chipped over the statuesque Glennon.

As the ball sailed over the stopper’s head it looked like it was going to drift over the bar, but it dipped as if possessed at the last second, nestling in the net and putting the game beyond Town.

If that goal demonstrated at its finest the skill of being a striker, then Flitney’s double save in the following ten minutes was a perfect exhibition of goalkeeping.

First he saved from a close range header from a corner, then he denied substitute Danny Hattersley with his first as he burst into the box.

Late-on Flitney was alert again to thwart Hattersley from the right of the box.

Attendance: 852 Eastleigh: Flitney, Spence, Stanley, Constable, Reason (Howard 89), McAllister (Burton 72), Midson, Strevens (c), Evans, Turley, Partington. Subs (not used): Beckwith, Pell, Walker.