BEN Strevens celebrated his first victory in caretaker charge of Eastleigh at FC Halifax Town this afternoon.
The 38-year-old gave his job prospects a boost as a second-half Josh Hare header sealed a precious 1-0 National League win at The Shay.
The key moment came on 57 minutes when Hare got on the end of Mark Yeates’s free-kick.
Halifax keeper Sam Johnson got a hand to the header, but it had enough power on it to earn Eastleigh all three points.
"It was a big win and a big performance," smiled a delighted Strevens.
The Spitfires are tenth and can carry confidence into Tuesday’s home game against league leaders Leyton Orient (7.45pm).
The Os smashed Havant & Waterlooville 4-0 to leave Lee Bradbury’s men a lowly 22nd in the table.
AFC Totton pulled off an FA Trophy ‘giant-killing’, triumphing 2-1 at Hampshire rivals Gosport Borough in the first qualifying round.
Returning defender Stuart Mott let fly from 30 yards to fire Totton into a 12th-minute lead.
Ryan Pennery levelled matters for Gosport on 22 minutes before Borough player-manager Craig McAllister smacked the crossbar.
The winning goal arrived shortly before the break when Charlie Gunson clipped the ball in for defender Callum Chugg to meet with a thumping header.
Winchester City had to settle for a share of the Evo-Stik Division One South spoils, held 1-1 at home by Highworth Town.
City’s Oli Bailey scored for a third league game running on 44 minutes but, having had a player red-carded, Highworth hit back with an 81st-minute Ash Edenborough penalty.
The Sholing bandwagon rolls on in the Sydenhams Premier Division.
The table-topping Boatmen beat Cowes Sports 3-0 at the Universal Stadium to make it nine wins out of nine.
Dan Mason struck twice and Lee Wort once, leaving the two hitmen level pegging on 24 goals this season.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here