Forest Green Rovers 1 Eastleigh 1

MIKAEL Mandron netted his fifth goal in four games as Eastleigh left Forest Green Rovers with a valuable Vanarma National League point this evening.

After a drab first half, the match came to life in the 48th minute when Mandron scored at the near post.

Luke Coulson, in his first start under Ronnie Moore, created the chance with an exciting run down the left before crossing for Mandron, who sidefooted the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot.

But eight minutes later Forest Green were level. Right-back Joe Partington allowed substitute Elliot Frear to cross and ex-Arsenal trainee Rhys Murphy swept in the equaliser from ten yards out.

Frear had only been on the pitch for a few minutes and Jake Howells was fortunate to only be booked for a poor challenge on the former Salisbury winger midway through a lively second half.

James Constable was denied by an excellent diving save on the hour, while Coulson was excellent throughout on Eastleigh’s left flank.

He nearly created another chance after jinking past his marker in the Forest Green penalty area. Unfortunately there was no one there to convert the cross.

Another Coulson pass gave Ryan Bird a chance with his first touch, but it was straight at the goalkeeper.

Tempers flared in the latter stages as Forest Green assistant manager Scott Lindsey was sent to the stands by referee David Rock.

Moore could be content with a very good away point against the National League’s second-placed side.

Coulson certainly took his opportunity to impress after replacing midfielder Adam Dawson in the only change to the side that drew at home to Southport on Saturday.

He had Eastleigh’s best chance of the first half, seizing on a cross with a thumping right-footer after getting in front of his man. Forest Green goalkeeper Sam Russell beat it away from the bottom corner with both hands as he dived low to his left.

Forest Green, having suffered a first defeat of the season on Saturday, started brightly. But Eastleigh goalkeeper Ross Flitney was not tested and the visitors had the most clear-cut openings.

After drifting inside, Coulson fed Mandron, who fired at the keeper. The former Sunderland striker then failed to control a pinpoint Howells cross on the edge of the six-yard box.

Constable, booked early on for a foul, headed wide, Andy Drury had a shot blocked and Mandron’s shot at the near post from Coulson’s cross was saved.

At the other end, Reda Johnson was magnificent. Two blocks from the dangerous Keanu Marsh-Brown kept the Spitfires level before Mandron’s opener.

Eastleigh: Flitney, Partington, Cresswell, Johnson, Green, Howells, Drury, Taylor, Coulson; Constable (Bird 78), Mandron. Subs (not used): Huddart, Dugdale, Pipe, Dawson.

Attendance: 1,444 (153 Eastleigh)