Paul McCallum scored with two fine first half headers as Eastleigh wiped out an early Kidderminster Harriers penalty lead to secure a 2-1 win which eased them from the edge of the relegation zone into a comfortable mid-table slot.

His initial strike came midway through the opening period and the decisive second in first half added time as Eastleigh collected a seventh point from nine since their 6-0 home humiliation by Gateshead a fortnight ago, writes Mike Vimpany.

"I can't ask for more than have perfect deliveries on to my head and I back myself to score if I get in the right place," said McCallum, who has now added two more goals to the 37 he scored in his two previous spells at the Silverlake Stadium.

"Chris Maguire has become our set play specialist and we've been working on dead ball situations in training. It's always great when your preparation work pays off.

"When Oscar Rutherford came off the bench he injected pace down the left and the ball he put in for my second couldn't have been better."

Kidderminster made light of their travel issues - their coach broke down en route to the game - with a bright opening which caught Eastleigh off guard.

Their early initiative was rewarded with a seventh minute penalty - Ludwicg Francillette needlessly tripping Gerry McDonagh as the Irishman cut in from the left.

McDonagh, who made eight on-loan Eastleigh appearances at the tail end of last season, rifled his penalty kick past Joe McDonnell to give the visitors the lead.

Eastleigh, who go to Bromley on Tuesday evening, shook themselves down and both Scott Quigley and McCallum were denied by goalkeeper Christian Dibble before the Spitfires equalised.

It was a trademark 22nd minute header by McCallum that levelled the scores - the Eastleigh striker stealing in at the near post to glance home Chris Maguire's left-side corner.

McCallum ought to have scored again soon after but, in a one-on-one situation, was denied by Dibble's outstretched legs.

Hampshire raised Christian Oxlade-Chamblerlain wasted a good chance before a flurry of bookings saw Harriers' Joe Leesley and Quigley yellow carded.

Eastleigh interim manager Richard Hill quickly followed them in referee Greg Rollason's notebook

Substitute Oscar Rutherford injected much needed zip when he came off the bench to serve up a pin-point cross which McCallum buried past Dibble to give the Spitfires a 2-1 interval lead.

McCallum's second headed goal came three minutes into a protracted nine minutes of added time, a techy spell in which McCallum and assistant Eastleigh boss Jason Bristowe were added to the yellow card count.

Kidderminster pushed Eastleigh back after the break, but their lack of bite in attack - McDonagh's early penalty was only the fifth goal they've scored all season - was all apparent as McDonnell was seldom troubled.

Eastleigh, though, ought to have scored a third goal before the end - Kidderminster somehow surviving a frenetic scramble on their own goalmouth in added time.