EASTLEIGH 0 BARROW 2.

EASTLEIGH’S National League woes continued at the Silverlake Stadium this afternoon as they were beaten 2-0 by a Barrow AFC side who had lost their last seven away games.

A goal in each half by Byron Harrison and Jimmy Dunne proved the Spitfires’ undoing – coupled with a stubborn goalkeeping display by the Bluebirds’ Isle of Wight-born stopper Stuart Moore.

Eastleigh handed a debut to midfield loan signing Simon Heslop, brought in on an initial month’s deal from York City this week.

Another newcomer, Frazer Shaw, made his home debut at left-back, while goalkeeper Graham Stack and attacker Chris Zebroski returned to Richard Hill’s starting line-up.

Zebroski, stationed wide right, was a lively presence early on and forced a fifth-minute corner which Barrow managed to scramble off the line after big centre-back Andrew Boyce had sent a booming header from Mark Yeates’ delivery into the six-yard box.

For a club with an injury list the size of Eastleigh’s, the last thing they wanted to see was promising, young midfielder Cavaghn Miley brought down by a scything tackle from Tony Diagne inside his own half.

The Barrow offender was booked and thankfully Miley was able to continue after treatment – only to then be shoved over from behind by Bedsente Gomis on his next foray forward. That challenge also drew a yellow card from interestingly-named referee Simon Barrow.

Although Eastleigh were knocking the ball around brightly enough, they produced nothing to unduly worry Moore in the Bluebirds’ goal.

And, with the action drifting by somewhat aimlessly, it was Barrow who raised their game to seize the lead with 32 minutes gone.

Eastleigh had already had a scare when an acrobatic effort by Byron Harrison was solidly saved by Stack – the Barrow man chesting the ball down and swivelling to shoot on the volley.

But the Spitfires didn’t learn their lesson and their abject failure to clear the ball from inside their area after good work by Barrow’s Adi Yusuff was this time soundly punished by HARRISON, who intervened with a crisp left-foot strike.

Half-time: Eastleigh 0 Barrow 1.

Eastleigh almost had a bigger task on their hands in the opening seconds of the second half when miscommunication at the back saw Yussuf strike the outside of the post from a tight angle and Harry Panayiotou’s follow-up well blocked by Shaw.

The Spitfires responded positively and they too hit the woodwork with a flicked header by James Constable from Yeates’s corner.

Moore was then tested by a low shot from Ben Williamson after the Eastleigh centre-forward had spun his man.

But there was soon more trouble in store for the Spitfires as the Bluebirds jubilantly doubled their lead with 55 minutes gone.

Stack had just pulled off an outstanding save to keep out skipper Asa Hall’s point-blank header from a Brad Bauress corner.

But the former Arsenal and Barnet ’keeper could do nothing about what happened next as JIMMY DUNNE beat him with supreme left-foot strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

With Eastleigh staring down the barrel of defeat, Hill withdrew Zebroski and Constable and sent on McCallum and Sam Matthews with 63 minutes gone.

Suddenly there was real urgency about their play and Williamson wasn’t too far away with a near-post header from right-back Gavin Hoyte’s well-flighted cross.

As they continued to pile on the pressure, it took a goalline clearance to deny AFC Bournemouth loanee Matthews who drilled in a low shot after more good work from Williamson, who had just had a ‘goal’ disallowed.

Bright spark Matthews then drove forward from midfield and returned the compliment by picking out Williamson, who this time lashed the ball into the side netting.

An even better chance came Williamson’s way seconds later as he pounced on a missed header by Moussa Diarra, but Moore brilliantly blocked him and the ball was scrambled clear.

Hill withdrew Miley and threw on the giant figure of Ayo Obileye as a last throw of the dice but, despite late efforts by Yeates and Obileye, Moore was equal to both .

First he tipped Yeates’ shot behind for a corner and then brilliantly pushed away Obileye’s piledriver with both hands.

Some of the 1,708 crowd voiced their disapproval by booing 18th-placed Eastleigh off at the final whistle.

EASTLEIGH: Graham Stack, Gavin Hoyte, Frazer Shaw, Cavaghn Miley (Ayo Obileye, 84), Andrew Boyce, Callum Howe, Mark Yeates, Simon Heslop, Ben Williamson, James Constable (Sam Matthews, 63), Chris Zebroski (Paul McCallum, 63). Subs (not used) : Ross Flitney, Craig McAllister.

Referee: Simon Barrow.

Attendance: 1,708.