EASTLEIGH’S final away game of a rollercoaster National League season did not go to plan this afternoon.

The Spitfires were well below par in a 2-0 defeat at relegation-battling Solihull Moors having guaranteed themselves top-flight survival last weekend.

This time it was Solihull’s turn to breathe a mighty sigh of relief as first-half goals from Regan Charles-Cook and Simeon Maye ensured they too will be staying up.

With first-choice goalkeeper Graham Stack struggling with an elbow problem and young Portsmouth loanee Nick Hall also injured, the Spitfires drafted in Josh Barnes on an emergency loan from Derby County.

It took just 11 minutes for the young debutant to be beaten although, in fairness to Barnes, there was precious little he could do as Solihull seized the lead with a quality goal from on-loan Charlton midfielder Charles-Cook.

The 20-year-old ex-Arsenal academy player took aim from all of 25 yards and unleashed a peach of a strike into the top corner.

Twelve minutes later, the off-colour Spitfires slipped two goals into arrears when they were caught out from a corner.

Jack Byrne flicked it on at the near post and, with Eastleigh failing to deal with the danger, Simeon Maye rose to head home.

Having scarcely mustered a chance in the first half, the Hampshire visitors created only a couple of openings in the second – Hakeem Odoffin heading off-target from Michael Green’s free-kick and fit-against Portsmouth loanee Ben Close firing wide.

The greater threat was carried by Solihull with the excellent Omari Sterling swivelling and lashing a shot against the bar with 48 minutes gone.

On 68 minutes, it needed a superb saving tackle from Eastleigh defender Gavin Hoyte to prevent Sterling going through one-on-one with Barnes.

Eastleigh's woodwork was shaken again two minutes into stoppage time when a thunderous Harry White shot smashed back off the bar.

Richard Hill's Spitfires round off the season at home to Wrexham next Saturday with a 12.15pm kick-off.