Spitfires stalemate

By Wendy Gee -

Eastleigh have dropped a place to seventh in the Blue Square Bet South after drawing 0-0 at Dartford last night.

The Spitfires went closest to nicking a tight game at Princes Park when skipper Tom Jordan headed against the crossbar.

The 6ft 5in centre-back also forced a tip-over from the Darts keeper with another header.

Eastleigh had travelled to Kent looking for their fourth straight league victory, but manager Ian Baird was reasonably happy with a draw that keeps them just a point outside the play-off zone.

"It's a fourth game unbeaten and, in those, we've only conceded one goal which was a penalty," he said.

"Any point away from home is decent, particularly against a Dartford side who have strengthened considerably and are on a run of one defeat in 12.

"Every game is like a war of attrition at this stage of the season and we stood up to it well tonight. I'm pleased with our lads, they worked their socks off.

"There weren't many chances. Tom Jordan had a couple and Dartford had one flash across goal in the second half.

"The pitches have hardened up and the ball's very lively. It's difficult to get it down and play.

"A draw's not the worst result in the world."

Woking's 2-1 home win over Hampton & Richmond has leapfrogged them above Eastleigh into fourth. But the promotion-hungry Spitfires remain just a point outside the play-off zone, level on points with sixth-placed Welling, who visit the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday.

"That's a massive game," said Baird. "The run-ins going to be all about the survival of the fittest. We've just got to keep going."