EASTLEIGH crashed to a second defeat in three home games - to a goal by a former Havant & Waterlooville striker.

Ollie Palmer’s first-half goal was the difference between the sides as Grimsby Town extended their four-month unbeaten away run to 11 games.

The 23 year-old has not been nearly as prolific at League Two Mansfield as he was at Havant, where he scored 37 goals in 64 games before moving on 18 months ago.

But his second goal in three games since joining Grimsby on loan earlier this month ensured a happy return to Hampshire for the former Woking man in front of a 1,515 crowd including Pompey manager Andy Awford.

After dispossessing Eastleigh defender Jamie Turley in the penalty area, Palmer coolly slotted the 33rd-minute winner in off the far post with the inside of his right boot.

It could easily have been more as Grimsby dominated at the Silverlake Stadium.

Not until the dying stages did Eastleigh force a save out of James McKeown, who palmed substitute Craig McAllister’s header behind in injury time.

Palmer could have had a hat-trick. Ross Flitney saved at his feet early on, and he scuffed another effort into the side-netting before his goal.

Flitney again saved well from Craig Clay on the stroke of half-time.

Palmer’s strike partner, Lenell John-Lewis, failed to hit the target with a free diving header that he sent across the face of goal but beyond the far post at the beginning of the second half.

And debutant Christian Jolley was also unmarked when he fired so far off target he nearly cleared Eastleigh’s new stand.

Dan Spence was needed to clear Shaun Pearson’s header off the line midway through the second half and Flitney did well to tip over a fearsome follow-up shot from Craig Disley.

Palmer missed two more chances late on and was inches wide from a carbon copy of his goal after dispossessing Turley once again, capitalising on the Eastleigh centre-half’s lack of match sharpness in what was only his second game for the club following his summer move from Forest Green Rovers.

This was also Eastleigh’s first game in 17 days but manager Richard Hill refused to use that as an excuse.

He said: “There are no excuses. I get slaughtered by the fans for making excuses so I’m not being caught out with that one!

“We didn’t really get going until the last 20 minutes, but even then we huffed and puffed. We didn’t start well enough and gave them a lead to hold on to.

“The goal was a very good finish and they played with a lot of confidence after that whereas we started to play hoof ball, which is what happens when your confidence drains from being behind.

“They had a little more spark after the goal and they’re a good, hardworking side. I saw their game on Saturday and Paul (Grimsby manager Paul Hurst) would have told his players they needed to be markedly better here tonight. Credit to them, they were.

“They raised their game and stopped us from playing.”

Eastleigh: Flitney, Evans, Turley, Partington, Spence; Reason, Stanley (Odubade 63), Strevens, Howard (McAllister 63); Midson, Constable. Subs not used: Todd, Reid, Noice.