EASTLEIGH 1 YORK CITY 1 FRUSTRATION was the order of the day at the Silverlake Stadium this afternoon as Eastleigh lost ground in the Vanarama National League play-off chase when held 1-1 by lowly York City.

The Minstermen – without a win in 12 league and cup games – drafted three new signings into their starting line-up and there were some signs of unfamiliarity at the back early on which Eastleigh looked well equipped to capitalise on.

With seven minutes gone Andy Drury played in Luke Coulson who tested goalkeeper Scott Flinders with a rasping, low shot and, three minutes later new loan winger Alefe Santos from Derby County knocked the ball back to Joe Partington on the right.

The full-back, returning from a one-match suspension, thumped a dangerous first-time ball into the six-yard box which York managed to scramble behind for a corner before Mikael Mandron could connect.

Coulson delivered from the left and Flinders initially dropped the flag-kick before gathering at the second attempt.

With York creating little on a stodgy, rain-drenched surface, the Spitfires went desperately close to scoring on 24 minutes following some excellent work down the left.

James Constable played in over-lapping full-back Michael Green and his delicious cross was headed inches past the near post by former Sunderland youngster Mandron.

Constable had had two half-chances just prior to that – the first from an attempted clearance which ricocheted just wide off his body and the second deflected out for a corner off ex-Spitfire Matt Fry.

For all their dominance, Eastleigh reached the half-hour mark with zilch to show for their efforts and were badly in need of a stroke of magic to brighten up an uninspiring half of football.

Man-of-the-moment Coulson so nearly provided it, cutting in from the left in trademark fashion on 36 minutes and flashing a shot just beyond the far post.

The next time Coulson took possession, he knocked it inside to Santos, cropping up in a central position, but the Brazilian-born debutant could not keep his shot down.

Half-time: Eastleigh 0 York City 0 Underwhelming first-half performances are nothing new to Eastleigh on home territory – and neither are early second-half goals.

That familiar tale looked set to repeat itself on 49 minutes when Constable had the ball in the back of the net, but celebrations were curtailed by the linesman’s flag.

But Eastleigh kept going and finally got their breakthrough with a quality 52nd-minute opener.

Big defender Reda Johnson was beaten in the air from a corner earned and delivered by new arrival Santos.

York looked to have survived the danger, but Eastleigh recycled the ball and Drury came up trumps with a superb delivery from the right which was glanced home by the towering figure of MANDRON, scoring at home for the second game running.

York responded with a triple substitution, including the introduction of Richard Brodie – the man Spitfires’ fans love to hate.

Predictably there were jeers all round the Silverake on 63 minutes when the well-travelled No9 belted a hopeful shot wide from distance.

But those changes heralded a shift in power as York came into the match for the first time, looking to eat into Eastleigh’s fragile lead.

Brodie made his presence felt again on 72 minutes when he and Jason Taylor – named Eastleigh captain in the absence of the Ryan Cresswell – got into an unseemly wrestling match. Referee Alan Young chose to let both off with a lecture, which will have come as a huge relief to Spitfires boss Ronnie Moore as Taylor is walking the tightrope of four bookings.

Moore responded by throwing on frontline duo Jamie Cureton and Ryan Bird for Santos and Constable but, try as they might, Eastleigh couldn’t stem the yellow-shirted tide and were stunned by a York equaliser in the 76th-minute.

New signing Danny Holmes pumped a long ball forward and Simon HESLOP brought the ball down with his chest before slipping the ball under Ryan Clarke.

Suddenly it was panic stations in the Spitfires’ defence and it needed Johnson to whip the ball off Brodie’s boot as he shaped to shoot.

Eastleigh got some respite when York’s ex-Salisbury City man Clovis Kamdjo fell awkwardly in a challenge with Mandron and, after treatment was stretchered off the pitch, reducing the visitors to ten men.

That took the sting out of York as an attacking force but, although Eastleigh threw the kitchen sink at their visitors amid a frenzies six minutes of stoppage time, efforts by Johnson and Cureton went frustratingly wide as they were made to settle for a point.

EASTLEIGH: Ryan Clarke, Joe Partington, Michael Green, Jason Taylor, Connor Essam, Reda Johnson, Luke Coulson, Andy Drury (Jai Reason, 90), James Constable (Ryan Bird, 75) , Mikael Mandron, Alefe Santos (Jamie Cureton, 75). Subs (not used): Ryan Huddart,Ayo Obileye.

Referee: Alan Young Attendance: 2,341