Eastleigh manager Richard Hill hailed his side’s 2-1 win over Vanarama Conference leaders Bristol Rovers as the biggest game in the club’s history.

Hill’s side travelled to the cauldron atmosphere of the Memorial Stadium on Saturday and put a big dent in the Gas’s pride – as well as boosting their own promotion hopes.

Michael Green and Jack Midson’s goals brought Rovers’ 20- game unbeaten run to an end and saw the table-toppers defeated for only the second time this season on home turf.

The result further affirms the Spitfires’ place among the play-off chasers as they sit in sixth, five points behind Forest Green Rovers, who beat title-charging Barnet on Saturday, with three games in hand.

Although Hill refused to get carried away with undoubtedly their most eyecatching conquest this season, he put the result in context.

“The people from Bristol Rovers, they’ve been at a higher level,” he said.

“They know what it’s like to have big games.

“I’m sure they can appreciate for a club like Eastleigh to be in this league and to come here to play in front of 7,000 people.

“I believe today is the biggest game Eastleigh have ever had, in my opinion.

“The Bristol people need to bear that in mind.”

While Eastleigh have a team of vast experience who are acclimatised to the atmospheres like the Memorial Stadium, the club and the fans were treated to a memorable day.

“We’ve assembled a very good squad of players and they’ve come to try and win the football match,”

said Hill.

“For our football club, you need to be aware that this is a massive day for us.

“It was a big day for us because we are on the up, we are a new football club in this league but we are trying to improve every week.

“To be able to come here for this football match, to play in front of that many people is amazing for us.

“We’ve got the players to do it but you have to remember that it’s a big day for our football club.

“I’ve been here with other clubs like Gillingham, with Wycombe in the past, and the crowd are always very passionate about their football club and rightly so.

“They put you under enough pressure as it is without the team putting you under pressure.

“I don’t ask them to spare a thought for us, but for anyone with a bit of compassion, just a spare a thought for Eastleigh that we’ve come here to try and win the football match, we’ve been successful and this is a massive day for our football club.”

Eastleigh now prepare to travel to Kidderminster Harriers tomorrow night.