RONNIE Moore had spoken of Eastleigh needing to lock away their FA Cup excitement “in a cupboard” and concentrate on the importance of league points at Gateshead yesterday.

Unfortunately, they also shut the door on the sparkling brand of football that had humbled League One Swindon just four days earlier.

By the manager’s own admission the Spitfires were fortunate to go in 2-0 up at the break at Gateshead courtesy of a Scott Wilson strike and a Mikael Mandron penalty.

Yet, having got themselves in the driving seat, their flimsy defending allowed the Tynesiders back for a 2-2 draw.

It stretched Gateshead's unbeaten run to eight games and dumped Eastleigh down to an underwhelming 11th in the Vanarama National League.

Dismayed, once again, by the “chalk and cheese” nature of his side’s league and cup season, Moore confessed: “We haven’t played well today. You'd never have believed it was the same team that moved and passed the ball so well (at Swindon).

“We were very lucky we never lost the game. Every time they attacked us, I thought their two strikers battered our back four. We were so naïve and so brittle.”

The long trek to the north-east brought its own problems when goalkeeper Ryan Clarke injured his elbow in training during a stop-off at Doncaster Rovers.

Yet, if it hadn’t been for a string of excellent one-on-one stops from on-loan Arsenal youngster Ryan Huddart, the Spitfires would have made the seven-hour journey home completely empty-handed.

Gateshead had already struck the post when Eastleigh capitalised on a misplaced pass to open the scoring on 25 minutes. Heed keeper Dan Hanford blocked out Mandron, but Wilson was on hand to volley in his first competitive Spitfires goal.

Huddart ensured that lead remained intact and, on the stroke of half-time, Mandron doubled it from the spot after Russell Penn had fouled Jai Reason.

The 45 minutes that followed were packed with frustration for Moore as Gateshead's Sam Jones netted his ninth in ten games and Danny Johnson levelled from the spot after his namesake Reda Johnson had fouled Wes York.

To compound the misery, Eastleigh’s big defender picked up his fifth booking at a time when both skipper Ryan Cresswell and fellow centre-back Adam Dugdale are injured.

Plus, midfielder Andy Drury went off with a groin strain.

“At 2-0 it’s never over. We’d got the wind, but we gave the ball away too easily,” rued Moore.

“The keeper’s saved four one-on-ones and, without that, we probably lose the game.

“We were a shambles at the back and too kick and rush second half.

“I’m disappointed because we’re better than that.”

The Spitfires will get the chance to restore Moore’s faith in them when they make the short trip to Aldershot Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

The Shots also disappointed on Saturday, beaten 2-1 at home to Macclesfield. Ex-Eastleigh defender Will Evans got their goal.