DANNY Whitehall made the most of a rare starting place in the Spitfires line-up by scoring a 66th minute midweek winner for Eastleigh, whose 1-0 victory at Dagenham & Redbridge was only their second success on the road in the National League this season.

Denied initially by a fine near post save by Daggers keeper Elliot Justham, Whitehall followed up to convert the rebound and point Eastleigh towards a second consecutive win over a promotion chasing side.

They inflicted Notts County's first defeat in five matches four days earlier.

His winner also came as great relief to midfielder Tom Whelan, who fluffed a first half penalty for the Spitfires, writes Mike Vimpany.

Winning in East London made it a happy return to Victoria Road for Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens, who was a member of the Dagenham & Redbridge side which won promotion into League 2 in 2007. He scored 34 goals in a 2-half season spell at the Daggers.

Ironically, Whitehall might not have played on Tuesday evening had Ben House not pulled out sick, so the former Maidenhead United striker played alongside Tyrone Barnett.

Eastleigh were still without Cav Miley (injured) and Jake Hesketh (suspended). Academy products Dan Bradshaw and Jack Torniainen were on the bench, though neither got on.

As against Notts County last weekend, Eastleigh success was based on a solid and well organised rearguard, with goalkeeper Joe McDonnell coming under little pressure until the closing stages.

Former Spitfires hitman Paul McCallum (34 goals in 2017/18) was particularly well marshalled, Andrew Boyce once again catching the eye in central defence.

The industrious Ryan Hill earned his spurs in midfield and was the Spitfires player fouled for the penalty just after the half-hour mark.

Whelan, who blasted two successful spot kicks in the 3-2 win over Woking in late September, sent his penalty wide.

But he made amends midway through the second period with the cross that Whitehall converted to give Eastleigh their seventh league win of the autumn campaign.

Back-to-back wins over high riding opposition should get the turnstiles clicking when Eastleigh entertain in-form Solihull Moors at the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday, 3pm.

The crowd for the Notts County game was pushing towards 3,000 and, with Saints away at Liverpool, Eastleigh's match could be an attractive one for local soccer supporters.

Solihull beat Grimsby Town 2-0 in midweek.