EASTLEIGH'S 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge owed as much to the thoroughness of the backroom staff as to the determination of the players on the pitch.

Alex Wynter’s 89th-minute winner, headed home from Mark Yeates’s corner, was a product of all the painstaking work that goes into set-pieces on the training ground.

And the crucial first-half penalty save from Eastleigh’s new Sunderland loan signing Max Stryjek can be partially credited to the diligence of the Spitfires’ goalkeeping coach Ross Flitney.

With BT Sport cameras present for the lunchtime kick-off, Eastleigh chose a good time to achieve their first Saturday home league win since January.

But manager Andy Hessenthaler was far from happy with a first-half performance which, for all the Spitfires’ promising approach play, was devoid of clear-cut chances.

Dagenham, in contrast, could point to two instances where they might have done far better – Tomi Adeloye twisting and turning his way through only to drag his 38th-minute shot wide and then Chike Kandi having his spot kick saved by young Polish keeper Stryjek after ex-Saint Oscar Gobern had brought down Matt Robinson in the box.

It was the 56th-minute introduction of Chris Zebroski for Gobern that brought the best out of Eastleigh with Daggers’ keeper Elliot Justham saving first with his legs from Paul McCallum’s close-range shot and then turning away Reda Johnson’s point-blank header.

With the two sides having mustered only 18 goals between them all season, it looked as if a 0-0 draw was on the cards.

But, with time running out, Eastleigh’s excellent wideman Yeates was finally rewarded for his efforts when defender Wynter soared to meet his corner with a booming header - his first Spitfires goal following his summer move from Maidstone.

Hessenthaler said: “We were much better second half and Dagenham defended for their lives.

"Finally a goal came from a set play, which we’ve been crying out for one of our lads to score. Fortunately it's come from Alex Wynter, who I thought had a fantastic game today."

Debutant Stryjeck was named man-of-the-match for a solid all-round performance capped by that penalty save.

“Max has done well and you’ve got to give our goalkeeping coach Ross Flitney a lot of credit too,” Hessenthaler pointed out.

“We knew they’d had one penalty this year and the guy scored to the keeper’s right. Rosco’s done his homework, spoken to Max and showed him. Max went that way and saved it, so we got that bit of fortune we needed.”

Asked if he was looking forward to working with Stryjek for a month, Hessenthaler smiled: “A month – and hopefully beyond that after today’s performance! Thanks to Sunderland for enabling us to get him at short notice.”

The one blot on the Spitfires’ day was having McCallum sent off in the dying moments.

Already booked, the No9 raised a foot towards Daggers’ full-back Liam Gordon but made no contact whatsoever.

Even so, referee Peter Gibbons reached for a second yellow and then the red, leaving the 16th-placed Spitfires without the focal point of their attack for Tuesday's home game against Boreham Wood (7.45pm).

“The referee’s seen a bit of intent to try and trip their player, but there was no contact, so I’m disappointed with that,” rued Hessenthaler.

Eastleigh: Max Stryjek, Josh Hare, Michael Green, Jack Payne (James Constable, 83), Reda Johnson, Alex Wynter, Joey Jones, Oscar Gobern (Chris Zebroski, 56) Paul McCallum, Mark Yeates (Ollie Dennett, 90), Cav Miley. Subs (not used): Andrew Boyce, Danny Hollands.

Attendance: 1,538.

Referee: Peter Gibbons.