Eastleigh 2 North Ferriby Utd 0

REVITALIZED Eastleigh clocked up their third win in eight glorious days at a rain-drenched Silverlake Stadium this afternoon.

A header in each half from Andy Drury and Reda Johnson secured a 2-0 result over newly-promoted North Ferriby United as the Spitfires climbed to seventh in the Vanarama National League under new boss Ronnie Moore.

Moore made two changes to the side that pulverised Bromley 5-0 on Monday, welcoming right-back Joe Partington back from injury at the expense of Connor Essam and restoring ‘man mountain’ Reda Johnson to the heart of defence in place of Adam Dugdale.

Despite Partington’s return, Ryan Cresswell kept hold of the captain’s armband.

Kick-off was preceded by a minute’s silence for Eastleigh councillor and former Mayor of the borough Roger Smith who recently passed away.

It took Eastleigh less than four minutes to get their noses in front with a slickly worked goal.

Adam Dawson – the manager’s pick as star man at Bromley – brilliantly manoeuvred away from his marker on the left and sent an inch-perfect delivery to the back stick where ANDY DRURY was waiting to head in this third goal of the season.

With the Spitfires knocking the ball around with supreme confidence, both August player-of-the-month Mikael Mandron and James Constable were inches away from a killer connection inside the six-yard box.

Eastleigh keeper Ross Flitney got a solid punch to the Villagers’ first decent delivery into the box from Danny Emerton, but the next time the North Ferriby No6 sought similar joy down the right, Michael Green denied him with an excellent tackle.

In between times, Partington went on a typically robust run down the right and fizzed a cross-shot over.

Two Spitfires chances followed in the 25th minute with Mandron cleverly teeing up Jake Howells who first-time shot was smartly turned behind by goalkeeper Rory Watson. Skipper Cresswell got up to head Dawson’s far-post corner back across goal, but Mandron’s flick went wide.

North Ferriby’s best outlet continued to be down the right but, if they managed to double up on left-back Green, the giant figure of Johnson invariably got across to muscle them off the ball.

The former Coventry titan muscled Danny Clarke a bit too hard in the 35th minute at the expense of booking, but Connor Oliver’s free kick drifted harmlessy over.

The visitors had another half-chance just before the break when, following Taron Hare’s long throw, Simon Russell’s somewhat loose volley easily cleared the bar.

Half time: Eastleigh 1 North Ferriby Utd 0

For all that Eastleigh had comfortable first half, North Ferriby were still very much in the match and it took a decent save by Flitney to tip away another Oliver free-kick with 49 minutes gone.

But, as the rain began to lash down on a grey afternoon, the visitors’ task became all the tougher on 51 minutes as the Spitfires doubled their advantage courtesy of their mighty No27.

Once again Dawson was the provider, winging an inviting cross over, this time from the right. JOHNSON did the rest, bulldozing his way in front of his man and netting a bullet header.

Johnson went down injured moments later after tangling with United sub Reece Thompson at the other end of the park but, much to the relief of an appreciative 1,883 crowd, he was able to continue after treatment.

The Spitfires kept Watson busy with Partington’s teasing chipped cross to the far post and a typically determined strike by James Constable which he belted straight at the visitors’ keeper.

With conditions going downhill fast, North Ferriby came again with Flitney denying sub Conner Robinson at his near post before Danny Clarke got a faint touch to Emerton’s cross on its way wide.

And there a real scare for Eastleigh on 72 minutes when, with Flitney well off his line and the defence in a rare tangle, Robinson chipped a dream chance wide of a gaping goal.

Moore made a double substitution with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, taking off Dawson and Constable and throwing Luke Coulson and Ryan Bird into the soggy fray.

That gave the Spitfires the fresh impetus they needed and, as they got back onto the front foot, Mandron curled a beauty narrowly past the upright and Drury skidded a shot wide from Coulson’s assist.

Mandron had a half-shout for a penalty turned down and then tested the keeper from 20 yards as Eastleigh finished the game the stronger, keeping their fourth successive clean sheet.

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Joe Partington, Michael Green, Andy Drury, Ryan Cresswell, Reda Johnson, Jake Howells, Jason Taylor, James Constable (Ryan Bird, 74), Mikael Mandron, Adam Dawson (Luke Coulson, 74). Subs: Ryan Huddart, Adam Dugdale, David Pipe.

North Ferriby Utd: Rory Watson, Ben Middleton, Taron Hare, Mark Gray, Jake Skelton, Connor Oliver, Simon Russell, Danny Emerton (Fosu-Mensah, 82), Curtis Bateson (Reece Thompson, 43), Danny Clarke, Vinny Mukendi (Conner Robinson, 64). Subs: Ryan Fallowfield, Sam Topliss.

Referee: Anthony Serrano

Attendance: 1,883