THE VANARAMA National League table suddenly looks a whole lot brighter for seventh-placed Eastleigh.

A third game and a third victory under new boss Ronnie Moore has opened up a wealth of possibilities for the ambitious Spitfires, who are now within a point of the play-off places and five off top spot.

Although it’s fair to say Moore wasn't totally bowled over by Saturday’s rain-lashed 2-0 home win over newly-promoted North Ferriby United, he was well satisfied with the effort expended on a wretched late-summer afternoon in Stoneham Lane.

A pair headers by Andy Drury and Reda Johnson – both from Adam Dawson crosses – were enough to see off the gutsy green and white-hooped visitors, making it ten points gained from the last four games and a quartet of clean sheets.

“The performance wasn’t brilliant but it’s difficult when it’s as windy as it was and with the rain, but we showed a lot of commitment and desire,” conceded Moore.

“It wasn’t a day for pretty football but overall we just about edged it and deserved to win.”

In two home games under the wily Liverpudlian, Spitfires fans have witnessed three goals from centre-halves – a tribute to the set-piece work done in training.

For the second week running, former Coventry City defender Reda Johnson powerfully rose to the occasion, meeting Dawson's delivery with a bullet header to make the game all but safe with 51 minutes gone.

“We’ve got an abundance of height and determination and some good movement from set-plays,” said Moore.

“And it might come down to set-plays, especially against the bigger sides, the better sides, at this level.

“North Ferriby weren’t one of the biggest sides and, if you do it right, you’re going to score goals from it.

“It was nice to see Reda again get on it. Him and (fellow centre-back, Ryan) Cresswell are going to cause lots of problems.”

If Dawson keeps delivering with such accuracy from the flanks, Eastleigh’s big men should indeed have a field day.

But, on Saturday, it wasn’t only 6ft 3in powerhouse Johnson who cashed in.

With just four minutes gone, midfielder Andy Drury headed the Spitfires in front, capitalising on another great bit of skill by the 23-year-old former Leicester and Kidderminster wideman.

“It’s a great little move down the left-hand side and a good ball in, to be fair,” said Moore. “He (Drury) has just ghosted in and got a nice little header on it. I think it comes off his ear, hits the post and goes in. It’s good for him. We need goals from midfield as well.”

Moore made two changes to the side that had battered Bromley 5-0 last Monday, welcoming Joe Partington back from injury at the expense of Connor Essam and restoring Johnson to the heart of defence in place of Adam Dugdale.

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

They were tough decisions for the manager to make and Moore admitted: “It hard on Parts because he’s been injured and had just got the captaincy.

"But I’m a bit superstitious and Cress has had it and we’ve won. I just said to Parts, you carry on as vice-captain and Cress will do it. I think he was a bit disappointed but he took it well.”

Moore also felt for centre-half Essam who, in a trio of games filling in for Partington at right-back, had featured in three clean sheets.

Such is the depth of Eastleigh’s squad these days that the ex-Gillingham and Leyton Orient defender wasn’t even in Saturday's 16.

Neither were crowd favourites Jai Reason and Yemi Odubade or summer strike signing Scott Wilson, which could be an ominous sign with Moore looking to cut down his senior pro contingent from 22 to 18.

“You just have to make these decisions. That’s why I’m in the hot seat,” said the 63-year-old boss.

“It used to bother me, but I’ve got a living to make as well and the decisions I make are for me, my family and the club here.”

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