EASTLEIGH fans have witnessed some eye-catching debuts this season as the winds of change blow through the Spitfires squad.

But even new crowd favourites Reda Johnson and Mikael Mandron would struggle to compete with goalkeeper Ryan Clarke’s remarkable impact in yesterday’s hair-raising 2-1 National League victory over Sutton United.

Sutton’s ex-Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell felt his side were short-changed for the late pressure they inflicted on the sixth-placed Spitfires who, but for Clarke’s heroics, would surely have buckled as the visitors threw the proverbial kitchen sink at them.

But even he had to take his hat off to Clarke, a midweek capture from League One outfit AFC Wimbledon, for “four of the best saves you are ever going to see.”

Luke Coulson’s two early second-half strikes for Eastleigh would ordinarily have netted him the man-of-the-match award. But he too bowed to Clarke’s greatness, tweeting: “Buzzing to score two goals today and get another 3 points. And a big shout out to the MOM @ryan_clarke01. What a debut”

Manager Ronnie Moore had provoked mixed feelings among Spitfires diehards for throwing Clarke straight in at the expense of former No1 Ross Flitney, who was not even in the 16.

But football can be a cruel game and, come 4.50pm, the bulk of the 2,853 crowd were worshipping a new hero in the Eastleigh goal.

The ex-Bristol Rovers, Salisbury City and Oxford United stopper barely got a look-in at Northampton last season and his short stay at Wimbledon didn’t work out.

But any hint of rustiness was banished in an extraordinary second-half show of defiance from the 34-year-old.

Having dealt with a Craig Eastmond piledriver, he astounded the Silverlake by throwing himself to his left to flip Simon Downer’s effort onto the crossbar from Dan Wishart’s inswinging free-kick.

Next he stuck up a strong arm to turn over sub Bradley Hudson-Odoi’s bullet shot and, although he was disappointed to let in Ross Stearn’s long-ranger that made it 2-1, he slammed the door shut again by saving Bedsente Gomis’s penalty after Joe Partington's handball.

Moore described it as “one of the best goalkeeping displays I have ever seen."

Without Clarke, he would have been staring down the barrel of his first defeat as Eastleigh boss.

“But for the keeper, we lose the game, no doubt about it,” he said. “He’ll be disappointed with the one he let in, but the saves he made were fantastic.

“Apparently he’s got a good record on penalties, so I was justified really in putting him in there.

“I’m just disappointed we’re hanging on at home and we shouldn’t be. We should have been out of sight.”

Coulson struck in the 49th minute, teed up by Jake Howells, and again in the 51st with an uber-cool finish from the edge of the box.

But when golden chances came to Mikael Mandron and Partington, they didn't stick them away.

“Fair dos to Sutton, they had a good go, they’re a decent team,” said Moore.

“When they throw six (players) against our back four it’s very difficult and that’s when you’ve got to punish sides on the counter-attack and we didn’t do that.

“The last ten or 15 minutes we were bang under the cosh and the keeper’s made some wonder saves.”

Oxford-based Clarke was delighted to end a difficult week on a high note.

“It’s been tough on and off the pitch for me,” he confessed. “To finish off with three points is perfect.

“I never wanted to drop out of the League – especially League One – but hopefully I’ve taken a step back to go two steps forward with Eastleigh.”

Flitney was still with the club as of Saturday and is due to see Moore tomorrow to discuss his future.

Eastleigh: Ryan Clarke, Joe Partington, Jason Taylor, Michael Green, Reda Johnson, Ryan Cresswell, Jake Howells, Jai Reason, James Constable (Ryan Bird, 88), Mikael Mandron, Luke Coulson. Subs (not used): Ryan Huddart, Adam Dugdale, David Pipe, Ryan Bird, Jamie Cureton.

Sutton Utd: Ross Worner, Kevin Amankwaah, Dan Wishart, Jamie Collins, Simon Downer, Craig Eastmond, Roarie Deacon, Ryan Burge (Ross Stearn, 64), Bedsente Gomis, Dan Fitchett (Bradley Hudson-Odoi, 68), Maxime Biamou (Chris Dickson, 68) . Subs (not used): Louis John, Dan Spence.

Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis

Attendance: 2,853