EASTLEIGH'S Vanarama National League play-off hopes were dented by a frustrating 0-0 Good Friday stalemate with relegation haunted, ten-man Welling.

The visitors’ Michael Bakare received his marching orders for a reckless 25th- minute tackle on Dan Harding, but the Spitfires could find no way through a resilient away team, writes Paul McNamara.

Jack Midson came closest to finding a home winner, the recalled Eastleigh attacker hitting the bar from two yards out midway through the second half.

It’s a result that will leave Chris Todd’s team at least three points adrift of fifth place going into their Easter Monday clash at Torquay United.

Welling’s start, bristling with intent, belied the pre-game chaos that saw the visitors pitch up at the Silverlake Stadium with scarcely 30 minutes to prepare for action, following traffic problems en route from Kent.

Eastleigh, on the other hand, were sluggish out of the traps.

Jai Reason picked up a caution for a reckless eighth-minute midfield challenge on Reece Harris. And Harris was soon curling a free-kick over Ross Flitney’s bar after Josh Payne had upended a raiding Sahr Kabba.

The visitors quickly found themselves behind the eight-ball, though – and the Wings’ newly punishing predicament was entirely self-inflicted.

As an initially promising Welling counter-attack ground to a halt, Bakare launched into an ugly studs-up tackle on Harding.

Referee Mark Pottage promptly reached for his red card, with the visiting frontman embroiled in a heated exchange with a few inhabitants of the Spitfires’ dugout as he headed for the tunnel.

Eastleigh struggled to immediately make their man advantage tell, but with the interval approaching the hosts summoned up a sustained attack on their opponents’ goal.

Michael Chambers was alert to get across and deflect behind Matt Tubbs’ 42nd-minute shot on the turn.

Luke Coulson rolled the subsequent corner to Lee Cook, who found Reason to pick out Payne for a 25-yard drive that was tipped over by a fully extended Michael McEntegart.

Coulson went deep with his next flag-kick, finding Yemi Odubade, who headed narrowly wide.

Chambers rescued his 'keeper by smashing clear when McEntegart spilled Odubade’s 48th-minute volleyed effort, while Will Evans and Reason were both wide with long range strikes as the Spitfires, forlornly, sought a breakthrough.

Odubade then couldn’t apply decisive contact on Cook’s left-wing delivery, allowing McEntegart to cling on low to his left.

Tubbs cleverly redirected another Cook cross at goal, only for McEntegart to tip round his right-hand post.

On 69 minutes Midson posted a contender for miss of this, or any other, season.

Coulson delivered a terrific low cross from the right, which evaded Odubade but landed for his teammate.

Totally unmarked and with the goal at his mercy, Midson somehow turned the ball up onto the underside of the bar.

With Welling now effectively digging a trench, McEntegart parried a Reason strike and Sam Corne blocked a volley from returning Spitfires sub Matty Fanimo.

Payne was twice off target with right-footed efforts in the closing stages as the hosts ran out of steam.

And despite four added minutes at the end, Eastleigh ultimately drew their first Silverlake blank since last November’s defeat to Grimsby Town.