ANDY Hessenthaler reckons Eastleigh targetman Paul McCallum will be good for 20 goals this season – if he keeps getting quality deliveries like the one at Hartlepool yesterday.

The Spitfires were heading towards 500 minutes without scoring when right wing-back Josh Hare conjured up a glorious cross for the former Leyton Orient man to net a trademark header.

That 70th-minute leveller was no more than Eastleigh deserved for a much-improved second-half performance as they came away from Victoria Park with a 1-1 National League draw.

McCallum has now scored five times this season and manager Hessenthaler is convinced that, given the right ammunition, the 25-year-old will keep firing.

“We got Paul to the club when Rich (Hill, former manager) was here and I had a big say in that,” said the boss.

“I said that if you get balls into the box then Macca will score – and he’s proved that again today.

“We brought Josh Hare in who’s fantastic high up and can whip balls in and it was a well-worked goal today.

“I’m pleased for Macca. For me, he’ll get 20 goals this year if we get enough balls in the box.”

Hartlepool had opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Niko Muir got on the end of Ryan Donaldson’s right-wing cross to tap home.

“A few words were said at half-time. We were nowhere near the standard we were looking for and we made it easy for them,” said Hessenthaler.

“They were better than us and deserved to be winning.

“But we came out on the front foot second half and young Ollie Dennett’s had a chance which, with a bit more experience, he would have scored.

“Cav (Miley) had had a great little flick from a ball by Yeatesy (Mark Yeates) where the keeper’s made a good save low down to his left and when young Ollie doesn’t score, you think it’s going to be another one of those days.

“But we’ve come away with a draw and that’s two games unbeaten now so, hopefully, we can get a bit of momentum going.

“It was a long seven-hour journey up here and I’d have taken a draw before the game.”

Eastleigh’s Hampshire Senior Cup tie against a young AFC Bournemouth side has been switched to the Vitality Stadium, Dean Court, on Tuesday, kicking off at 7.45pm. Admission is £5 adults, £3 concessions.