EASTLEIGH battled out their third straight Vanarama National League draw away at Ebbsfleet United this afternoon.

Having taken a 20th-minute lead through James Constable, Richard Hill’s team had to come back from behind after Jack Powell and Danny Kedwell had nosed Fleet in front.

The Spitfires’ equaliser came with ten minutes to go when Reda Johnson’s shot deflected in off sub Craig McAllister for 2-2.

But for a great save by Fleet’s former Gosport goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, Eastleigh would have been in front before Constable volleyed the loose ball home from Mark Yeates’ free-kick.

The Spitfires had a lucky escape when Kedwell headed wide, but were left feeling doubly hard done by as Fleet hit back to level at half-time.

Still smarting after a second Constable ‘goal’ had been disallowed, they had a contentious foul awarded against Danny Hollands in stoppage time.

Fleet’s set-piece specialist Jack Powell took full advantage, lifting the free-kick over the wall and in off the underside of the bar.

Ashmore frustrated the visitors again with a great double save from Yeates and Constable early in the second half before Ebbsfleet’s Darren McQueen had a ‘goal’ snuffed out for offside.

On 68 minutes Eastleigh fatally switched off in defence, Bagasan Graham played the ball behind and Kedwell duly put Fleet 2-1 up.

But the Spitfires, who handed a debut to impressive young Jersey captain Cavaghn Miley, refused to give up and on 80 minutes sub McAllister diverted Johnson’s driven shot past a wrong-footed Ashmore for 2-2.

It was unbeaten Ebbsfleet’s seventh draw out of eight league games since promotion to the Vanarama National League.

The result leaves Eastleigh 12th in the table with 11 points from eight games.