Eastleigh 2 Chester 2.

EASTLEIGH’S hopes of notching a third win in four Vanarama National League games were sunk by a rousing Chester fightback at the Silverlake Stadium this afternoon.

The Spitfires scored early in each half through Ben Williamson and Gary McSheffrey to put themselves in the driving seat, but it all unravelled in the last half-hour as James Akintunde and an 89th-minute Ryan Astles leveller hauled the lowly visitors back for a 2-2 draw.

With defensive duo Ryan Cresswell and Reda Johnson both sidelined with hamstring issues, the Spitfires made two enforced changes to the side that started last week’s excellent 2-1 win at Macclesfield.

In came Gavin Hoyte, switching from right to left-back after a three-match ban, while Ayo Obileye filled the right-back berth.

In all, Eastleigh had eight players out injured, but they made light of their troubles to go 1-0 up with just two minutes gone.

Danny Hollands played in James Constable and the former Oxford United forward did brilliantly to hold the ball up and it lay it back for Ben Williamson to drill in his eighth goal of the season.

But no sooner had they established a lead than Eastleigh so nearly gave it away when Ross Flitney came tearing out of his area.

Akintunde rounded the stranded 'keeper and squared to the unmarked Ross Hannah, centrally placed in front of goal. An equaliser seemed inevitable but, fortunately for the Spitfires, Andrew Boyce bailed them out with a face-saving header, diverting the ball away from the empty net.

Flitney made amends on 15 minutes, smothering well at the feet of Jordan Archer after Lucas Dawson’s free-kick had been flicked on.

Mark Yeates, two-goal hero of the Macclesfield win, fancied himself for another on 25 minutes, bursting in from the left and letting fly from the corner of the area. It was on target, but Chester keeper Connor Mitchell got two strong hands behind it to turn it away.

A lengthy spell of Eastleigh possession followed with Williamson denied by a last-ditch tackle and Obileye curving a delightful ball down the right into the path of Gary McSheffrey whose low delivery fizzed across the goal face.

Eastleigh needlessly put pressure on themselves conceding a corner and free-kick in the closing minutes of half.

They scrambled the corner clear and McSheffrey’s breakaway was crudely halted by Reece Hall-Johnson, who was yellow-carded.

Chester's stoppage time free-kick was straight off the training ground with Lathaniel Rowe-Turner found free on the left and crossing for skipper Kingsley James who should have converted at the back stick, but somehow steered his effort wide.

Half-time: Eastleigh 1 Chester 0.

Yeates showed his quality again three minutes into the second half, curling a delicious free-kick marginally wide of Mitchell’s far post.

Chester then earned a free-kick of their own and Flitney got a solid punch to Lucas Dawson’s inswinging delivery from the left.

On 52 minutes came a goal to cherish as Eastleigh doubled their advantage with Yeates and McSheffrey oozing Football League class.

The latter played in Yeates on the left of the area and the No10 crossed back to McSheffrey who deftly nodded it over the advancing Mitchell at his near post.

Eastleigh, though, seldom make life easy for themselves and, having survived one huge scare when Flitney denied the rampaging Hannah, they had their lead sliced in half with an hour gone.

It was all too easy for the visitors as skipper James got in on the right by-line and cut the ball back for Akintunde to slam high into the net for 2-1.

Moments later Akintunde had another opening when Dawson’s deflected shot fell into his path, but his effort flew well over.

The Spitfires rang the changes with Ben Strevens, Craig McAllister and fit-again Sam Matthews coming on in the closing minutes, but the momentum was mainly with Chester and Flitney made another crucial save on 84 minutes when Astles threatened at his near post.

Eastleigh hearts were in mouths when Akintunde rounded Flitney inside the area but Chester couldn’t make the most of the opening.

The relentless pressure from the visitors finally told in the 89th minute when Eastleigh’s slender lead was wiped out.

Dawson delivered a corner from the left and the giant figure of Astles was waiting to bury a free header for 2-2.

The Spitfires streamed forward in stoppage time but, alas for Richard Hill’s men, there was to be no repeat of the last-gasp winner that had sunk Gateshead a fortnight ago.

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Gavin Hoyte, Callum Howe, Danny Hollands, Andrew Boyce, Ayo Obileye (Ben Strevens, 72), Gary McSheffrey (Sam Matthews, 79), Cavaghn Miley, James Constable, Ben Williamson (Craig McAllister, 76), Mark Yeates. Subs (not used) Chris Zebroski, Ollie Dennett.

Referee: Savvas Yianni.

Attendance: 1,868 (138 Chester)