EASTLEIGH completed a second-half turnaround to come from behind and defeat in-form Torquay United 2-1 at the Silverlake Stadium.

Ben Strevens’ side had missed out on Boxing Day action after Weymouth had to postpone the meeting due to COVID cases in their playing squad.

But they served up a festive feast on Tuesday with Tom Whelan and Tyrone Barnett both scoring after the break, following Armani Little’s opener, to get back to winning ways in the National League.

Former Saint Jake Hesketh kept his place in Strevens’ team for the final match of 2021, after his hattrick last time out versus Enfield Town in the FA Trophy.

Although eventual goalscorer Barnett, 36, had both of the opening chances, he could not convert and it fell to Little to open the scoring – finding space inside Spitfires’ penalty area to fire past Joe McDonnell.

McDonnell then made a superb save to prevent Torquay doubling the advantage, palming an effort from range onto the bar.

But it was an immediate turnaround in the second-half, with Whelan being fouled inside the box and then duly converting the penalty himself to level terms just eight minutes into the half.

Just 15 minutes later, Torquay shot-stopper Shaun MacDonald gifted Barnett a late Christmas present when he spilled his powerful downward header into the net to complete the comeback.

The Spitfires were then rescued again by McDonnell from Little, before surviving a dangerous scramble inside the area with just 10 minutes to play.

The win puts Strevens’ side onto 28 points from 19 games, just eight behind Solihull Moors in seventh with two games in hand.