WOKING 2 EASTLEIGH 1.

EASTLEIGH’S unbeaten start to the Vanarama National League season is over.

A fatal combination of missed chances and wretched luck sent the Spitfires tumbling to a 2-1 defeat at Woking tonight.

In a match jam-packed with drama, the Spitfires fell behind on the brink of half-time totally against the run of play.

Jamie Philpot delivered from the right for Inih Effiong to turn his man and fire past Spitfires goalkeeper Ross Flitney, who had been called in for the injured Graham Stack.

Effiong had earlier been denied by a goalline clearance from Spitfires defender Andrew Boyce but, for the most part, Eastleigh dominated first-half proceedings.

They carved out chances galore, but top scorer Ben Williamson hit the post, Chris Zebroski shot tamely at the keeper when it had looked easier to score and new Lincoln City loan signing Callum Howe headed narrowly over on his debut.

Eastleigh’s thus far frustrating evening took another turn for the worse on 53 minutes when, in trying to keep out Effiong’s dangerous delivery, right-back Gavin Hoyte turned the ball into his own net with Bobson Bawling waiting to pounce.

But the drama was far from over as the Spitfires were awarded two penalties in quick succession.

Williamson threw away the first lifeline when his 64th-minute spot kick, awarded for handball against Chez Isaac, was saved by Woking’s on-loan Chelsea youngster Nathan Baxter.

Unbelievably, the ref pointed to the spot again just a matter of seconds later when Josh Staunton fouled Mark Yeates.

Ayo Obileye, fresh on as Eastleigh’s third sub, took charge this time, clinically sending Baxter the wrong way for 2-1.

But misfortune struck again for the visitors when Hoyte pulled up injured and had to go off, leaving his side to soldier on with ten men.

Flitney pulled off a blinding save to deny Effiong and, though the Spitfires threw the kitchen sink at the Cards late on, their hopes of a leveller vanished when Louis Ramsay hooked Williamson’s low shot off the line amid a breathless finale.

Defeat drops Eastleigh to 15th ahead of Saturday's visit of Tranmere Rovers.