Eastleigh survived strong Altrincham appeals for a late stoppage time penalty to keep their promotion play-off prospects bubbling with a nervy odd-goal victory over the FA Trophy semi-finalists.

With the match three minutes into added time, the sixth placed Spitfires appeared to be heading towards a 3-1 win - only for Eddy Jones to trigger a frenetic finale with Altrincham’s second goal, writes Mike Vimpany.

Then as the Spitfires went to repel one last gasp attack, Eastleigh central defender Aaron Martin dived in to block a shot from substitute Aaron Bennett.

Altrincham’s attackers claimed hand ball, but referee Sam Mulhall waved away their protests and Eastleigh escaped to celebrate a 14th home win in front of their relieved Silverlake Stadium supporters.

Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson described it as “daylight robbery” while suspended Spitfires manager Lee Bradbury, who watched the match from the television gantry after a touchline ban imposed for four bookings, agreed that he too “would have been shouting for it,” adding “though the award of a penalty would have been harsh.”

The win kept Eastleigh alongside Barnet on 63 points, but significantly eight ahead of Wealdstone, who lie immediately outside of the play-off pack.

The Spitfires’ visit to play-off rivals Boreham Wood on Saturday has a ‘six pointer’ look about it.

Eastleigh were gifted a bizarre sixth-minute lead – an own goal by Altrincham’s James Jones, who aimed a blind pass back towards goalkeeper Oli Byrne. He slipped up, appearing to lose his footing as the ball trickled agonizingly past him and into the net off the post.

Spitfires doubled their lead in the tenth minute after a flowing move down the left, initiated by Oussey Cisse and converted at close range by Kairo Michell from Charlie Carter’s pinpoint cross.

A third goal would probably have settled the contest but JJ McKiernan headed Michael Kelly’s cross high and wide when he might well have scored.

Two-nil came often be a ‘dangerous’ lead and so it proved as Altrincham gained the initiative and deservedly cut Eastleigh’s lead in the 28th minute.

Eddy Jones let fly with a rasping shot from outside the box, which cannoned off goalkeeper Joe McDonnell and into the path of Jordan Hulme, who headed home the rebound.

Altrincham switched ends in the ascendency, leaving Eastleigh to take the sting out of the game after the break, though they had one uncomfortable moment when Hulme screamed a shot past McDonnell – only to be flagged offside.

Eastleigh appeared to have the win points in the bag with a third 73rd minute goal – a rare strike by Christian Maghoma, only the second of his career.

Danny Whitehall won a free kick on the right-hand of the box and Maghoma rose above the Altrincham defence to head home Michael Kelly’s free kick.

Altrincham had rescued 23 points from losing positions before their trip south and they almost grabbed a draw in a dramatic finale.

Three minutes into stoppage time Eddy Jones clawed it back to 3-2 and then came the hand ball claim against Aaron Martin.

Some referees might have pointed to the spot.  To Eastleigh relief – and Altrincham’s disappointment - Sam Mulhall didn’t …