Eastleigh were almost punished by Vanarama Conference strugglers AFC Telford United today but a James Constable equaliser eight minutes from time salvaged a point for the Spitfires in a breathless 3-3 draw at the Silverlake Stadium.

Visiting goalkeeper Freddy Hall was helpless but to deflect into his own net from Will Evans’s low ball within the opening ten minutes to give the home side a deserved lead.

And it looked as if the hosts, playing just their second game in 28 days, would then control the game.

But after a dominant half hour, defender Jamie Turley limped off and things drastically changed for Richard Hill’s men.

Four minutes before the break Telford top-scorer Tony Gray – who scored a hat-trick in December in the reverse fixture (which Eastleigh won 4-3) – struck to make it 1-1.

Adam Farrell and Sam Smith gave United – who are a far different proposition since Steve Kittrick took charge just before Christmas – a two-goal cushion before Constable netted his 13th in all competitions to grab the point.

Spitfires goalkeeper, Ross Flitney, spent the opening half hour as a spectator – bar a couple of well handled crosses and a clearance or two – as his team-mates masterminded some delightful attacking football.

Hill’s side could, and should, have gone into the break with three goals to their name but, instead, they only managed the one and let a Bucks side there for the taking back into the match with four minutes left of the opening 45.

Evans helped break the deadlock just eight minutes in when he burst into the box chasing a Jai Reason through ball. The right back squared the ball hard into the six yard box, with Constable waiting to pounce.

But, before it got to the former Oxford man, it ricocheted off keeper Hall and into the net.

Eastleigh then dominated, nothing indicated what was to come. Harry Pell on his debut after signing from AFC Wimbledon recently in the centre of midfield was the orchestrator.

Brian Howard, another New Year arrival, looks to be settling into his place in the team, operating across the midfield. He delivered some excitement with a great free kick on the edge of the box, which was saved well.

The ex-Reading man also hit a swerving cross that had to be tipped over by Hall. Reason joined in the attacking action by slamming a 25-yard shot low at the busy custodian, who palmed out for a corner.

It was all hunky dory for the Spitfires until Turley, the centre back who returned from a long-term arm injury against Grimsby last month, limped out clutching the back of his left leg as he disappeared into the tunnel for treatment.

Dan Spence came on. It marked the end of the defensive harmony that had seen the home team untroubled for much of the first 35 minutes.

Six minutes later Gray jinked past Evans, now at centre half, creating space in the box for a shot. His right footed effort, his 12th of the season, flew past Flitney’s arm.

It sparked Telford into life. With seconds left of the half, Smith missed a sitter from Danny Ventre’s long range shot, which rebounded to him just outside the six-yard box.

Eastleigh had lost their momentum, and 12 minutes into the second period things went from bad to worse. In a two-minute flurry United, who have sat bottom of the division since early September but have just won back-to-back away games at Aldershot and Wrexham, snatched a 3-1 lead.

First Farrell stepped up, striking powerfully across goal from the right. Flitney got a touch but it was hit too hard to be kept out the net.

Then, on 58 minutes, Smith atoned for his earlier miss – making sure from Clancy’s parried shot from Flitney, with a thunderbolt into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

Dan Walker and later Deon Burton were introduced for their Eastleigh debuts as Hill searched for a way back into the game.

With 18 minutes left they had their lifeline as Reason’s deflected shot in the box off Mike Grogan wrong-footed stopper Hall and nestled in the bottom right.

You couldn’t take your eyes off this ridiculous roller-coaster of a game. Eastleigh levelled through Constable as he tapped home in from Ben Strevens’ head back across the six yard box from Reason’s free kick.

Walker, using his devastating pace, burst through into the box with five minutes left and cut the ball across the face goal. Hall was waiting for it and collected in.

ATT: 1219 Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Michael Green, James Constable, Jai Reason, Jack Midson (Deon Burton 67), Ben Strevens (c), Will Evans, Brian Howard (Dan Walker 57), Jamie Turley (Dan Spence 35), Joe Partington, Harry Pell. Subs not used: Craig Stanley, Craig McAllister.