ANDY Drury slammed home a winning goal with just six minutes to play to break Southport hearts and put Eastleigh straight back on the winning track.

Following last week’s defeat by Grimsby, Chris Todd’s side looked set to be frustrated by a determined visiting side, much improved on the version that the Spitfires blitzed on this season’s opening day, writes Paul McNamara.

That was until the decisive moment of a match screened live by BT Sport.

Josh Payne collected Joe Partington’s pass and slipped his way free of visiting substitute Charlie Joyce, before accelerating into the right of the box and delivering for Drury to apply the finishing touch.

Jack Midson, recalled to the Spitfires side in place of Yemi Odubade, set the tone for the afternoon inside sixty seconds, the attacker sending a pot-shot narrowly over the target.

Payne was more accurate minutes later, stinging the gloves of Max Crocombe with a drive from distance.

There was nothing the keeper could do, however, when James Constable collected a pass from Jai Reason on the right of the area to drill a shot across goal that came back out off the post. The visitors were rescued by a linesman’s flag as Drury tapped in the rebound.

Drury was quickly back in action, playing a sharp one-two with Payne before drawing another stop from Crocombe.

When Southport finally strung an attack together, Paul Reid – another Eastleigh man brought back into the side today, with loanee Wes Atkinson dropping to the bench – was perfectly positioned to block Louis Almond’s goal-bound effort.

A smart 25th minute Reason free-kick brought about the home team’s next opportunity. The attacker clipped the ball to the back post, where Ben Strevens had escaped his marker, only to miss his kick yards from goal.

Shortly after, Reid’s diving header, after Midson had flicked on Reason’s right-wing corner, was hacked from the line; a moment that acted to spur the Spitfires on in their pursuit of an opener.

Drury ghosted down the left to cross for Strevens, who stooped to head narrowly wide of Crocombe’s right-hand-post.

What came next, though, was all together more easy on the eye. A dazzling move, instigated by Midson, and passing through Reason, Drury, Michael Green, by way of a lovely piece skill, and Payne, saw the ball end up at Partington’s feet on the right.

Reason stepped over the full-back’s cross, before accepting a return pass from Drury to drill a shot that was deflected fractionally beyond the far post.

Daily Echo:

After finishing the first-half on the front-foot, Eastleigh continued in the same vein after the break, Payne rifling over from 25 yards.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, though, and Todd’s men were heaving a mighty sigh of relief when Will Evans’ clearance slammed into Paul Rutherford’s back and looped just wide.

The Spitfires were quickly back on the offensive, with Crocombe clutching onto a Payne free-kick.

Reason was soon slinging in a set-piece from the right, sparking a scramble. Strevens was the man to eventually pull the trigger, the midfielder watching on as his rasping drive deflected behind.

At the subsequent corner, with Crocombe floored amid a goal-line tussle, Partington’s header drifted an inch wide of goal.

Crocombe was forced to dig himself out of a hole just after the hour mark. The stopper’s mis-hit drop-kick landed for Midson to release an onrushing Strevens. It was the away number one who won the one-on-one duel, however, rushing out to parry clear the Eastleigh man’s strike.

Daily Echo:

The hosts still couldn’t afford to nod off at the back, with Liam Nolan serving a reminder of the Merseysiders’ threat when the midfielder strode forward to drive a yard wide.

Adam Blakeman was then similarly close with a free-kick that whistled by Ross Flitney’s left upright.

And Southport would be left to rue their misses, when Drury pounced to win the day.