Eastleigh's players had “a bit of a half-time fall-out” before steering their play-off train back on track at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Spitfires, needing just one point to ensure a top-five Vanarama Conference finish, got off to the worst possible start against Kidderminster, conceding after less than a minute.

No sooner had goalkeeper Ross Flitney collected his supporters’ player-of-the-season award than he made an ill-fated dart outside his area which resulted in Danny Wright firing Kiddy in front with just 51 seconds gone.

Manager Richard Hill had forecast there would inevitably be “some apprehension” going into the game given the size of the prize at stake.

But after such a nightmare opening, that apprehension escalated into full-blown nerves and it wasn’t until they had got their half-time frustrations out of their system that the Spitfires settled down as goals by Ben Strevens and James Constable got the job done 2-1.

“It was a bit nervy and I said at half-time to just calm down, try and play, and just pass the ball to each other,” said Hill.

“The lads weren’t happy with each other at half-time and they had a bit of a fall-out.

“But the reason they had that fall-out was because they knew they could do better.

“We couldn’t have made a worse start and it had all felt a bit edgy first half.

“You’re on the seat of your pants knowing that if you concede again, it’s a long way back.

“But, to be fair to the lads, we started the second half brightly and I was pleased with them.”