EASTLEIGH have yet to see the very best of striker Paul McCallum.

But his two late strikes against Dover Athletic on Tuesday have virtually wiped out any fear of the Spitfires being sucked into the National League drop zone.

With just six minutes of normal time remaining, Eastleigh were 1-0 down and staring another depressing defeat in the face.

But former Leyton Orient man McCallum followed an 84th-minute equaliser with a second goal on 90 minutes to lift the gloom of two long months without a win.

Both goals emanated from decent deliveries into the box and manager Andy Hessenthaler, whose side host Ebbsfleet United tomorrow (Good Friday, 3pm), stated: “I’ve always said that the more crosses we get in, the more goals McCallum will score.

“Because we’ve got wide players who like to come inside at times and perhaps our full-backs don’t push on enough, we haven’t been getting enough crosses in.

“But, with Paul, you can cross from deep and he’ll still try and get on the end of things.

“He’s had a tough time with injuries this season and is still not fully fit and firing on all cylinders. He needs a good pre-season.

“But I was pleased for him on Tuesday. He was brought to the club to score goals and that’s what he did.”

The win leaves Eastleigh just one point short of their immediate 50-point survival target in 12th place.

On Monday (3pm) they travel to promotion-chasing Hampshire rivals Aldershot Town.

Meanwhile, Eastleigh loan striker James Constable will miss Poole Town’s Easter games against Whitehawk (home, today) and Hungerford (away, Monday).

Poole appealed against Constable’s recent sending-off for foul and abusive language after the final whistle at East Thurrock, claiming mistaken identity.

But, without video footage, they failed to convince the FA to overturn the decision.

Marvin Brooks, also sent off that night, faces a four-match ban as it was his third dismissal of the season.