ON-LOAN Watford midfielder JJ McKiernan’s first goal for Eastleigh gave them a 1-0 victory at York City.

The 20-year-old, on his fourth successive National League start, headed home from a corner three minutes before half-time.

York thought they had scored an equaliser before the interval when the ball was bundled in from a corner, but the referee ruled Eastleigh goalkeeper Joe McDonnell had been impeded in the scramble.

In the second minute of added time the hosts’ Ryan Fallowfield headed inches wide from another set-piece as Eastleigh held on for a second win of the season which lifted them into the top half of the table.

Lee Bradbury's Spitfires are now unbeaten in three, having also beaten Wealdstone and drawn with Dagenham & Redbridge, since the narrow opening-day loss at Wrexham.

Eastleigh, who gave a debut to new recruit Callum Ebanks off the bench, return to action by hosting Southend United on Saturday.

Spitfires: McDonnell, Camp, Martin, Panter, Harper, Cisse, Carter, Hesketh (Oyenuga, 72), McKiernan, Hill, Abrahams (Ebanks, 45).

Unused subs: Langston, Rutherford, Atangana.