Jamie Turley scored the decisive goal as Eastleigh reignited their Vanarama Conference play-off push with a 2-1 win at strugglers Welling United at Park View Road today.

In a must-win game for both sides in London, Jai Reason gave the Spitfires the lead before Ben Jefford levelled just before the half hour.

With play-off rivals Forest Green Rovers winning 4-1 at Chester, it was vital that Eastleigh kept the pace with the promotion chasing pack.

And Turley struck with 14 minutes left to send the Spitfires hurtling back into the play-off picture and all but consigning the Wings to relegation.

Five Eastleigh changes saw Dan Spence in for left-back Michael Green, whose season could be over after he picked up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 defeat against Dover.

Turley was the only defensive survivor from that game as Joe Partington and Paul Reid – making his first appearance since early February – came in for Will Evans and Dean Beckwith in a revamped back four.

Reason returned to the starting XI for Craig McAllister after suspension and Craig Stanley came in for benched Harry Pell.

Eastleigh spent 90 fruitless minutes searching for a goal against Dover at the Silverlake Stadium, just 48 hours earlier, but it took just six minutes for the Spitfires to open their account in London.

Partington – playing right-back rather than his normal centre half berth – swung in a ball from the right, to just outside the six yard box.

Reason – who usually specialises in splendid goals with his feet – revealed another weapon in his armoury as he drifted into the box and directed a header into the top right of the goal.

Moments later Turley almost netted a clone of Reason’s goal but his header thundered against the crossbar from a Reason free-kick just past halfway.

Osbourne headed in the equaliser for Welling from a Ben Jefford corner on 29 minutes, but it never should have been.

The Spitfires protested in vain that Tashan Adeyinka was offside as he burst through to win the corner that lead to the goal, but referee Richard Martin waved away appeals.

That injustice, sparked Eastleigh into life, but neither Jack Midson nor Brian Howard could finish half chances.

It continued to be fragmented into the second period. It seemed like every other minute that some niggle had stopped play.

It never really flowed, but the Spitfires were in the driving seat.

And, with 14 minutes left to play, Turley popped-up with what could be the biggest goal of the Spitfires’ season.

The centre-back first took a touch in the box and with all the agility of a seasoned striker, he slammed home under the outstretched keeper Jonathan Henly.

Attendance: 700 Eastleigh: Flitney, Spence , Stanley , Constable (Walker 87), Reason , Midson, Strevens, Reid (c), Howard (Evans 85), Turley, Partington. Subs (not used): Beckwith, McAllister, Pell.