As with Saturday, the Missioners were quick out of the blocks and could have struck as early as the fifth minute. Michael Bartley forced veteran Francis Benali into an error before finding Shaun McAuley, his deep cross was volleyed back into the centre by Liam Feeney where Kieran Knights diving header was wide of the target.

The Spitfires then found some rhythm of their own and twice went close, firstly a Jason Dodd cross just evaded the outstretched boot of Brian Dutton and then an unmarked Rob Marshall was too high with his header, again from a Dodd cross. In between these two chances for the home side, Knight went close again for the Missioners as his deflected shot was tipped around the post by keeper Paul Musselwhite.

Kevin Davies was next in action, the returning Hayes stopper easily holding a Dave Town snapshot from the edge of the area. We then took the lead seven minutes before the break, Knight controlled the ball before playing the ball through to McAuley, the Hayes youngster outpacing the ageing Benali before lifting the ball over Musselwhites dive and into the net.

Hayes again started the second period in lively fashion, Ryan Ashe and McAuley both had efforts from range that failed to trouble the home custodian before Spitfires manager Paul Doswell made what proved to be an inspired triple substitution because within three minutes his side were level.

A long Musselwhite kick was helped on its way by substitute Steve Forbes to fellow bench warmer Martin Thomas, he flicked the ball into the path of Danny Smith who burst into the box only to be tripped by the poorly positioned Ashe. This led to a penalty kick and an explosive discourteous PA announcement that Eastleigh had a penalty - errr hello we have got eyes! As he had for Weymouth against us twice last season, defender Matt Bound stepped up and netted from the spot sending Davies the wrong way.

Knight and Feeney both saw efforts from range fail to hit the target before the Spitfires carved a way through the Hayes defence to take the lead, again the damage being caused by the sub combination of Thomas and Forbes. Thomas did well to keep a crossfield ball in play on the left before planting a perfect near post cross that Forbes powerfully headed past Davies.

The Missioners will however feel extremely hard done by, in stoppage time Michael Bartley received the ball in the Eastleigh area, turned between two defenders only to be bundled to the floor as the defender tried to pull his shirt off his back, despite referee Mr Knight being in close attendance he inexplicably waved away the Hayes protests and the game was lost.

Report by Kevin Watts.