Vanarama National League. 

Barnet 1 Eastleigh 2.

WHEN Michael Green sank a 30-yard beauty in a friendly against his old club AFC Totton last month, Eastleigh’s left wing-back came in for all sorts of light-hearted stick.

Totton boss Louis Langdown laughingly tweeted: “Imagine using all your goals up in pre-season” and teammates joked that the New Forest-based defender would never score one like it again.

But seeing was believing at Barnet yesterday as Green netted another screamer from outside the area to usher the Spitfires towards their first win of the Vanarama National League season.

When the ball hit the top corner with 20 minutes gone, it was no more than Eastleigh – who had drafted Cav Miley and Chris Zebroski into the starting line-up - deserved for such a positive start to the game.

The Spitfires’ ex-Barnet goalkeeper Graham Stack played his part with two excellent stops towards the end of the first half, first blocking out Shaquile Coulthirst and then expertly dealing with Dan Sparkes’ powerful blast.

The visitors doubled their advantage on 64 minutes when, having been fouled for a free kick, Paul McCallum used his aerial prowess to get on the end of Josh Hare’s perfectly flighted free-kick for his second goal of the season.

Eastleigh managed the game well from that point, but Charlee Adams’ stoppage-time bolt from the blue made for a few anxious moments before the final whistle sounded.

Green’s goal was his first in the league for three-and-a-half years although, in fairness to the popular 29-year-old, he sat out virtually the whole of last season injured.

Assistant manager Ben Strevens smiled afterwards: “We all gave Greener a bit of stick after his strike at Totton. But, to be fair, he showed a lot of composure today, took a touch, steadied himself and it was a hell of a goal.

“He got right behind it and, as soon as it left his foot, you knew it was going in.

“Greener’s a good player and sometimes he just needs to believe in himself a bit more.

“We’re hoping that goal and the performance today will help him kick on and have a good season because he’s a great left-back.”

Strevens saluted Easteigh for “a really good team performance” and will be looking for more of the same at home to Bromley on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Eastleigh: Graham Stack, Josh Hare, Michael Green, Alex Wynter, Andrew Boyce, Reda Johnson, Danny Hollands, Oscar Gobern (George Dowling, 72), Paul McCallum (Ben Williamson, 86), Chris Zebroski (Mark Yeates, 80), Cav Miley. Subs (not used): James Constable, Ross Flitney.

Havant & Waterlooville came back from behind to draw 1-1 with AFC Fylde. Nicke Kabamba’s 48th-minute leveller was the Hawks’ first ever National League goal.