Eastleigh dispatched Dartford 2-0 to continue their unbeaten home record in the Vanarama Conference this season and bounce back from defeat at Torquay on Saturday.

Jack Midson converted a header on the stroke of half-time before substitute Michael Green scored directly from a corner late on at the Silverlake Stadium in a ‘free entry for all’ match, which attracted a bumper 1,765 crowd.

Eastleigh had the upper hand for the majority of the contest, pleasing boss Richard Hill.

“I don’t want to say it was routine,” said Hill, “Because that would do an injustice to Dartford as they put us under pressure from a few set pieces.

“But we looked tight, tidy and compact. At times we passed the ball quite well and I thought we were decent without being brilliant.

“The difference tonight from Saturday (Torquay) was we scored goals when we had possession.

“I’m not being disrespectful to Dartford – I want to stress that – but they are the first team that have come here this season and sat men behind the ball.

“They tried to contain us and sat deep.

“Bar us making us making a really terrible mistake, they didn’t really threaten the goal after the first ten minutes.”

With Green (ankle) not fit enough to start, Will Evans slotted in at centre back alongside Dean Beckwith with Paul Reid suspended, while the versatile Jamie Collins was at left back. Jai Reason returned after suspension.

After a fairly eventless opening 15 minutes, The Darts carved the first properly clear-cut chance but, as Tom Bender was slotted through, Spitfires stopper Ross Flitney was out to smother the danger.

Eastleigh had created some danger at the other end but, former Wales international keeper Jason Brown was equal to Collins’ shot, while James Constable slammed another effort wide.

With ten minutes left of the first half, Constable struck the upright from inside the box and then hit the rebound into Dartford defender Mat Mitchel-King.

With just a minute remaining in the half, Eastleigh broke the deadlock, Midson heading home from Reason’s corner.

The Spitfires forged the first opportunity after the interval as Fleetwood flashed a dangerous low cross, which was cleared.

Eastleigh turned the screw on the visitors in the second half, Fleetwood flashing a shot over and Collins’ header bringing a reaction save from Brown – in front of the Spitfires’ faithful that were christening their new 2,300 seat South Stand.

Daily Echo:

Green, on as a sub, made sure of the points late on by scoring directly from a corner – the ball bouncing through Midson’s legs.