Bromley 0 Eastleigh 0.

EASTLEIGH’S run of opening day wins in the Vanarama National League came to an end at Bromley this afternoon.

But the Spitfires, who had beaten Nuneaton, Southport and Guiseley in previous years – will not be too downhearted with a solid 0-0 away draw on the 3G surface at Hayes Lane.

Boss Richard Hill handed a competitive starting debut to six of his summer signings – Andrew Boyce, Danny Hollands, Sam Wood, Mark Yeates, Ben Williamson and Paul McCallum. Another, Chris Zebroski, was named on the bench after several days out with a groin strain.

The Spitfires dominated early on, making themselves well at home on Bromley’s newly-installed artificial surface, with Williamson, McCallum and ex-Sheffield United, Watford and Bradford wideman Yeates showing up well in attack.

A couple of early flashpoints – notably Frankie Raymond’s rash challenge on Wood - prompted referee Christopher Pollard to have a calming word with both skippers, but Eastleigh just got on and played their football, posing the bigger threat by far.

Two early balls over the top put Bromley on the back foot and Yeates sent an ambitious volley over with four minutes gone.

Eastleigh, playing with confidence on and off the ball, kept the Ravens backline fully occupied and almost got the breakthrough on 21 minutes when, following a short corner, a header from defensive titan Reda Johnson struck the top of the crossbar on its way over.

With Graham Stack untroubled in the Spitfires goal, Eastleigh threatened again with some neat, one-touch football five minutes later. But having manoeuvred himself into a great position, Yeates had his shot blocked by Tyrone Sterling and skipper Sam Togwell – solid in midfield alongside Hollands - blasted the loose ball over.

Such was Eastleigh’s control that it took Bromley 36 minutes to force their first corner and the home side’s only menacing move from open play ended with Adam Mekki firing well wide of Stack’s goal.

The Ravens were bound to improve having barely threatened first half – and Eastleigh survived a major scare on 52 minutes.

Ben Wynter’s cross picked out Louis Dennis on the edge of the six-yard box and his downward header hit the ground and bounced over.

Dennis made a pest of himself again four minutes later, but his cross-cum-shot scooted across goal and wide.

After Johnson had been booked for a challenge on Bromley’s ex-Eastleigh frontman Brett Williams, Hill made his first roll of the dice, replacing Williamson with Zebroski up top.

Another soon followed when McCallum made way for evergreen 37-year-old Craig McAllister.

Bromley responded by throwing on Iffy Allen, signed from Wrexham, and the winger made a super-sharp start, playing in Williams whose effort was blocked behind for a corner off man mountain Johnson.

Eastleigh’s final sub Ross Stearn, on for Yeates, also made a rapid impact, whipping in a corner from which Zebroski headed the Spitfires’ final chance wide.

Sutton United, Eastleigh’s visitors this Tuesday (7.45pm), beat Leyton Orient – newly relegated from the Football League - 2-0 at Gander Green Lane with goals from ex-Spitfires Jamie Collins (penalty) and Dean Beckwith.

Eastleigh: Graham Stack, Gavin Hoyte, Michael Green, Sam Togwell (captain), Reda Johnson, Andrew Boyce, Sam Wood, Danny Hollands, Paul McCallum (Craig McAllister, 75) Ben Williamson (Chris Zebroski, 67), Mark Yeates (Ross Stearn, 83). Subs (not used): James Constable, Ayo Obileye.

Referee: Christopher Pollard (Suffolk).

Attendance: 1,228 (121 Eastleigh).