EASTLEIGH lost their final pre-season friendly 2-0 at home to League Two newcomers Barnet this afternoon – the damage all inflicted in the first 15 minutes.

The Spitfires lined up without ex-Saints left-back Dan Harding who is currently on trial with League One Scunthorpe United.

Michael Green, the Spitfires’ regular in that position, came back in after missing most of pre-season with a pulled bottom muscle, while another contender for the spot, trialist Aswad Thomas, was on the bench.

Midfielder Josh Payne was absent from Eastleigh’s starting line-up and crowd favourite Jai Reason and striker Ross Lafayette – back from a dead leg – were named among the substitutes.

With a point to prove after last Saturday’s defeat by Oxford United, Eastleigh will have been hoping for a positive start.

But that went out of the window as, with just over two minutes gone, newly-promoted Conference champions Barnet, grabbed the lead.

Michael Gash bulldozed his way into the area and pulled the ball back to Andy Yiadom,who deflected low drive made its way through the crowded area and clipped the post of its way in.

Eastleigh’s Lee Cook had a dribbling effort cleared off line following a strong run and cross by Yemi Odubade before the Bees stung the home side again with 15 minutes on the clock.

 With the Spitfires distracted by an appaarent elbow on Andy Drury, Bees skipper Mauro Vilhete  scurried away on a clear run at goal, giving on-loan keeper Michael Poke no chance with a tidy finish.

The Spitfires responded with a promising spell of pressure, starting with ex-Barnet man Lee Cook’s exquisitely curling free kick which looked for all the world as if it was going in until Jamie Stephens got down to turn it behind.

Jack Midson flicked on Cook’s subsequent corner at the near post, but the ball sailed right over a host of heads in a packed six-yard box and out the other side.

Cook – one of Eastleigh’s busier players against his old club - then set up Odubade, who forced a corner and, from Cook’s delivery, defender Jamie Turley volleyed over.

Barnet, though, always looked a handful with their height and pace and, on 36 minutes, Elliott Johnson made headway down the left and delivered a dangerous cross-shot which clipped the bar on its way over.

With the bellowing voice of Barnet boss Martin Allen the most audible sound on a strangely subdued afternoion at the Silverlake, there was a warm ripple of applause for the arrival of Reason and Lafayette on 56 minutes, with Odubade and Cook making way.

Ten minutes later skipper Paul Reid made his exit, allowing sub Will Evans to partner Jamie Turley in central defence.

With any sense of urgency petering out for both sides, the second half was something of a non-event.

Jack Midson fired over for Eastleigh and Barnet’s first chance of note was a 73rd-minute Mathew Stevens header just wide following a throw-in.

With a quarter of an hour remaining,Eastleigh replaced Green with trialist Aswad Thomas, a former Woking and Grimsby left-back who featured for the Spitfires in their 1-1 midweek draw at Salisbury.

Manager Richard Hill’s fifth change swiftly followed when ex-Bristol City youngster Jack Alexander –who has been on trial throughout pre-season – went on for Midson.

Luke Gambin’s fizzing effort across the face of the Eastleigh goal briefly livened up proceedings before James Constable’s ambitious volley from Thomas’s cross sailed wide.

Thomas then delivered again from the left and Ben Strevens charged in to force the last corner of a drab half of football.

Eastleigh: Michael Poke, Joe Partington,Michael Green (Aswad Thomas,75), Jamie Turley,Paul Reid (Will Evans, 67), Yemi Odubade (Ross Lafayette,56), James Constable, Jack Midson (Jack Alexander, 82),Ben Strevens, Lee Cook (Jai Reason, 56),Andy Drury. Sub (not used): Lewis Noice.