BATTLE-scarred Eastleigh boss David Hughes admitted Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough was far more painful than the gashed eye that saw him carried out of the action.
The ex-Saints midfielder has suffered a catalogue of injuries in his time and added one more to the collection when he was elbowed in the face by Hampton's Alan Inns, who was red-carded in the 36th minute.
Eight minutes earlier Inns had headed home Graham Harper's cross to pull the Beavers level in a first half which, until then, Eastleigh had dominated.
Inexplicably, the Spitfires lost their grip completely against the ten men after the break and, having survived a penalty scare when keeper James Pullen thwarted Elliott Godfrey from the spot, they succumbed to two Lawrence Yaku goals in the 59th and 90th minutes.
It had all been so different early on with Eastleigh confidently taking the lead in the 20th minute when new arrival Matt Hann headed home.
Full story in today's Daily Echo.
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