Eastleigh climbed to seventh in the Blue Square Bet South, winning a 4-3 thriller at home to Staines Town last night.

Wounded by twin defeats in the league and FA Cup, Richard Hill’s men came back fighting in front of a 509 Silverlake crowd.

After a bright start they fell behind on 24 minutes when keeper Jack Dovey spilled Elliot Godfrey’s free kick, inviting fellow ex-Saints trainee Tony Garrod to net the rebound.

But the Spitfires replied in devastating fashion with two goals in three minutes.

First Craig McAllister flicked on for Moses Ademola to equalise and then Jai Reason coolly finished after racing onto to Dovey’s long ball.

Tom Jordan replaced the injured Mark Hughes on 53 minutes with debutant Leigh Mills shifting from central defence into central midfield.

Staines levelled three minutes later when David Wheeler punished a misplaced pass, but within seconds the Spitfires made it 3-2 when skipper Glen Southam thumped home Damian Scannell’s assist.

Dovey denied Louis-Rae Beadle and Eastleigh sub Marvin Williams hit the post before Reason appeared to make the game safe at 4-2 with another controlled finish.

Reece Hall gave Staines a flicker of hope by pulling one back on 90 minutes, but then he picked up a straight red for a reckless challenge on Michael Green.