NEW Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens couldn’t have asked for more from the Spitfires in his first game in permanent charge.

They made the long trek home from Barrow on a high after two Paul McCallum goals and one from Ben Williamson left them just three points shy of the Vanarama National League play-off places in ninth spot.

Traditionally the Spitfires have had a hard time of it at Holker Street, but this was different.

Boosted by victory at Halifax and two impressive home draws against title contenders Orient and Salford, Eastleigh played like a team that mean business under their new boss.

With the wind behind them, they took the lead on 14 minutes when goalkeeper Max Stryjek’s long kick ran through for McCallum to chip onrushing keeper Joel Dixon.

McCallum then turned goal provider on 42 minutes, nodding down Mark Yeates’ free kick at the back stick for Williamson to flick into an open net.

And the powerful No9 completed the scoring straight after the break, getting on the end of another excellent Yeates delivery to net a diving header for 3-0.

Such was Eastleigh’s dominance that Stryjek was a spectator for much of the game, but he was alert to keep out Erico Sousa’s curling shot on 73 mintues.

The Spitfires could have had another with ten minutes to go, but Dixon did well to keep out Andrew Boyce’s goal-bound flick from Yeates’ free-kick.

Saluting his team for flawlessly executing the game plan, Strevens said: “It’s a proud feeling when you work on something all week and then the team go out and produce it on a Saturday.

“I’m really pleased for every single one of them.

“It was a real good away performance at a tough place to come and play football in windy conditions.

“From the very first minute the boys were very good.

“We’d worked on a game plan throughout the week and they carried it out perfectly.

“I’m really proud of them today.

“To come out and get a third goal at the start of the second half was a real big boost for the boys.

“The last four performances have been excellent, with two away wins, and that’s another clean sheet which is a massive thing at this level.”

Having lost just one league game in 11, Eastleigh look the real deal this season, but Strevens is keeping a level head.

“We’re on the right track but, as soon as you get carried away at this level, you get brought straight back down to earth,” he cautioned.

“We know we’ve got to keep working hard and performing and we’ll see where the points take us, but it’s the performances that are more valuable to me at the moment.”

Eastleigh: Max Stryjek, Josh Hare, Cav Miley, Danny Hollands, Reda Johnson, Alex Wynter, Andrew Boyce, Mark Yeates (Oscar Gobern, 85), Paul McCallum (Tom Bearwish, 89), Ben Williamson (Ollie Dennett, 80), Joey Jones. Subs (not used): Callum Baughan, Ross Flitney.

Referee: Gareth Rhodes.

Attendance: 1,102.