by Paul McNamara

Eastleigh’s National League play-off bid is hanging by a gossamer thread after James Norwood’s 87th minute header condemned the Spitfires to defeat at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Tranmere striker’s decisive late goal completed a black day for the hosts, with fellow top-five contenders Braintree winning 3-2 at Wrexham.

Their defeat by the Merseysiders leaves Eastleigh needing to win at Woking next Saturday, while hoping for both Braintree and Tranmere to slip up.

To add to the Spitfires’ woe, key men Luke Coulson and Andy Drury limped out of the action either side of the break.

Coulson headed over ten minutes in, when the midfielder reacted quickest to Lee Vaughan’s clearance from Michael Green’s long throw

Ross Flitney then saved Jake Kirby’s shot down to his left after Steve Jennings returned the ball forward from Drury’s skied hack away from his box.

Eastleigh suffered the hammer blow of losing Coulson on 18 minutes following the midfielder’s thundering challenge with Jennings.  Josh Payne, returning from suspension, replaced the former Oxford City player.

And Flitney was promptly called on to preserve the stalemate.  The initially hesitant Spitfires keeper stuck out a leg to deny Lois Maynard, after the winger had been released down the middle by Jennings’ canny header.

With the home team struggling to locate any consistent attacking cohesion, a more direct route forward via Joe Partington’s wonderful right-wing cross saw the burly figure of Steve McNulty nip in front of Matt Tubbs to head behind.

Flitney was soon back in the action, grabbing hold of a low free-kick hit by Norwood after the striker had been baulked by Will Evans at the edge of the box.

The Spitfires were on the back foot immediately after the interval, Flitney dashing from his area to clear from in front of a chasing Kirby.

Green turned Liam Ridehalgh’s left sided cross behind with Maynard waiting to pounce - and when Jai Reason could only help Jeff Hughes’ subsequent corner towards his own goal, Evans was handily placed to clear.

Substitute Lee Cook tricked his way free of Hughes to fire an effort that Tranmere No 1 Scott Davies grabbed at the second attempt, but Chris Todd’s side was short on chances.

Norwood had his gloriously executed 67th minute volleyed finish wiped out by a linesman’s flag as the visitors stepped up a gear in pursuit of maximum points.

The striker soon had an opportunity to strike legitimately, only to be denied point blank by Flitney after the keeper had first parried away substitute Adam Mekki’s dipping 20-yard shot.

But then came a gilt-edged chance for the Spitfires’ to pinch the points on 81 minutes.  The outstanding Partington whipped in another delicious cross that found Reason totally unattended six-yards from goal.  The attacker, however, headed straight at ‘keeper Davies, who clawed the ball away from his line.

And that spurned opportunity looked even more costly six minutes later.

Tranmere kept alive a free-kick into the Spitfires’ box, with the ball sailing towards Norwood, who expertly looped his header beyond Flitney and into the left corner of goal.

Payne’s dipping stoppage time strike brushed the roof of Davies’ net and Evans, now operating as an auxiliary centre forward, drilled over from 18-yards with the last kick of a heartbreaking afternoon for Todd and his team.