Eastleigh are within touching distance of National League survival after a 1-0 win at York City, where Luke Croll's maiden late Spitfires goal secured a precious victory.

His scrambled 83rd minute winner took Eastleigh to the 53-point mark - a tally beyond reach of three of the bottom four clubs, writes Mike Vimpany.

It means that if Eastleigh can glean a point or even a win at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday - or get something from Tuesday evening's visit to Wealdstone - they will be mathematically safe.

But both host opponents are fighting for their proverbial lives in the drop zone, alongside York and Wealdstone, the latter having games in hand after their FA Trophy quarter-final run.
Central defender Croll, who joined Eastleigh in mid-December, had previously scored only one goal - for Chesterfield in their 3-1 2021 FA Cup win over Southend United.

His late winner at Bootham Crescent came shortly after York had two players sent off, leaving them with nine men for the final stages of a match which began with both sides perched precariously on the edge of the relegation zone.

Eastleigh's all important goal came with seven minutes remaining when Croll stabbed home from close range after Scott Quigley had helped on Ben Reeves' corner.

"This was a really positive day for us," said Kelvin Davis, Eastleigh's manager. "Another clean sheet to add since we have come in which is important.

“This was a game between two teams sitting on the same points at the bottom of the league. We knew it would be a decisive day.

“To come away with a win is very pleasing. We kept our discipline really well. There was some moments where we need to improve.

“But on the whole, we controlled what we could. We knew there would be moments in the game for us to take advantage."

As regards Eastleigh's winner, Davis added: “We work really hard on our set-plays players who have great delivery. The organisation was great. The conditions were windy so we knew that would play a part."