EASTLEIGH extended their unbeaten run to five league and cup games under new manager Chris Todd this afternoon, lifting themselves to seventh in the National League.

But it required a much-improved second-half performance by the Spitfires to see off lowly FC Halifax Town 2-1 in front of a 1,890 Silverlake Stadium crowd.

The Spitfires made two changes from the FA Cup win at Bromley, bringing in Ross Lafayette and pacy new signing Matty Fanimo for Jai Reason (suspended) and Jack Midson. Top scorer James Constable returned to the bench after suspension, but there was no Lee Cook due to shoulder problems.

Eastleigh opened surprisingly sloppily against a Halifax side saddled with the league’s worst away record and without a clean sheet for 28 games, allowing the visitors to dominate the early play.

There was nothing to rouse the home crowd until the 11th minute when Ross Lafayette burst forward at pace from the halfway line. He swapped passes with Yemi Odubade before laying the ball back to Josh Payne whose shot slammed against the Shaymen’s Nicky Wroe, sparking shouts of handball which were ignored by referee Adam Hopkins.

That apart, it was a strangely lack-lustre start by Chris Todd’s men and, inevitably they paid the price as the second-to-bottom visitors snatched a 15th-minute lead.

They seemed to have escaped when, after a neat sequence of Halifax passing, Spitfires keeper Ross Flitney did well to parry Sam Walker’s angled blast from the left. But the ball went straight to KINGSLEY JAMES who planted it into the far corner.

Straight from the kick-off Payne set Lafayette away down the left and keeper Matthew Glennon saved bravely at the striker’s feet as he powered into the box.

That was followed by the Spitfires’ first real glimpse of quality on 22 minutes when the fleet-footed Fanimo showed good skill on the byline and dug out a cross which defender Jamie Turley headed over.

As Eastleigh began to impose themselves, Lafayette rolled an effort just wide of the keeper’s right-hand post after a positive run by Dan Harding and then the tall No9 couldn’t quite capitalise on Fanimo’s low ball into the six-yard box.

Odubade then scampered onto a long ball forward, but lost his balance, allowing Nat Brown to dispossess him, before Ben Strevens headed over another Fanimo cross.

Shortly before half-time referee Hopkins had to bow out injured and was replaced by one of his assistants while the fourth official took over lineman’s duties.

Half-time: Eastleigh 0 FC Halifax Town 1

After such an indifferent first half, Eastleigh could only get better after the break and they emerged from the dressing room with far more hunger about them.

Three minutes in they were back on terms thanks to an ice-cool finish from Andy Drury.

A promising attack involving Lafayette broke down, but the Spitfires kept the ball alive, Fanimo delivered from the left and ex-Luton man DRURY showed superb control before slotting it away.

With Constable replacing Lafeyette on 56 minutes, the Spitfires stepped things up even more and the Halifax defence suddenly found themselves under siege.

As the hour mark approached Payne sent Constable through on goal and his fierce strike was parried by the diving Glennon. The ball broke loose, but went just behind Fanimo who was being closely marked.

Fanimo then forced a strong save by Glennon at his near post after more good work by sub Constable before Payne curved an excellent effort narrowly wide from distance.

Payne deserved something for his second-half endeavours and his reward came when he headed the Spitfires in front with 70 minutes gone, by which time Midson had replaced Fanimo.

Again the danger came from the left with Odubade flighting the ball in and PAYNE rising to head home from close range, getting in just ahead of teammate Midson.

Halifax, though, were far from done and home keeper Ross Flitney and Joe Partington each took knocks in the line of duty and Turley made a vital block as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.

There were worrying moments in the 89th minute when sub Shaun Tuton found space on the left of the area and it needed a vital hand by Flitney to turn his shot away with Odubade finally getting it behind for a corner.

After dealing with a succession of flag kicks, Eastleigh kept the tension alive by conceding two late free kicks. Both Walker deliveries ended up at the feet of Nicky Wroe, but he had one blast blocked by Ben Strevens and fired the other over as the Spitfires held tight for the points.