EASTLEIGH remain in control of their own destiny despite a fourth defeat in five games.

Goals either side of half-time gave Dagenham & Redbridge a 2-0 Good Friday win in what was Ben Strevens’ first visit to his former club as Eastleigh’s manager.

But Havant & Waterlooville did the Spitfires a favour by holding Ebbsfleet to a 3-3 draw – having led 3-0 at half-time.

Ollie Harfield tapped in the 44th-minute opener at the far post from Angelo Balanta’s cross

Luke Chike Kandi headed the second in the 52nd minute from close range after Kenny Clark flicked on Harfield’s cross.

Shaun Hobson had denied Kandi with a vital block shortly before the opening goal while Joey Jones and Sam Matthews were denied by Dagenham goalkeeper Elliott Justham.

But Eastleigh goalkeeper Luke Southwood kept the scoreline respectable in the second half with several excellent stops.

Ebbsfleet’s second-half comeback at Havant means they have closed the gap between themselves and seventh-placed Eastleigh to three points, while Gateshead are a point further adrift after beating Chesterfield.

But Harrogate Town’s 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient means Eastleigh remain a point off sixth place, with two games remaining – against Maidenhead on Monday and at Boreham Wood next week.

EASTLEIGH: Southwood, Hare, Hobson (Williamson 54), Boyce, Wynter, Green, Miley, Jones, Matthews (McKnight 66), Yeates (Zebroski 78), McCallum.