Defeat to Chesterfield was 'gut-wrenching', says Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens

Liam Mandeville struck the only goal of the game on 61 minutes, volleying in superbly at the far post.

The Spitfires had the better of the first-half and had three efforts cleared off the line during the 90 minutes but they could not find a way past a disciplined Town defence who recorded their 15th clean sheet of the season.

Overall Strevens felt the match was decided on ‘fine margins.’

“It is tough to take,” he said.

“Ultimately it is a long-throw into the box, I don’t know if it is us or them on first contact, I think it was them, and then the lad hooks it in the goal.

"It is gut-wrenching to see it go in and then you are searching for that equaliser but we did not create enough chances to get the equaliser at the end.”

Eastleigh edged the opening 45 minutes in terms of territory but did not force Blues stopper Grant Smith into any notable saves all afternoon.

Strevens’ men caused Chesterfield some problems from corners, with Martin Smith, Curtis Weston and Alex Whittle all clearing off the line.

“We had some good opportunities going into their box which I thought we could have got on the end of and we had a few cleared off the line but there were not many chances created from open play from either team,” Strevens added.

“Fine margins in a game have ultimately cost us.

“The smallest details cost the biggest amount of points and that has got them the three points and they go away happy.

“I thought in the first-half we looked good at times and we were creating overloads in the wide areas.

“They went for a box in midfield like they did at their place earlier in the season. We quickly nullified that and we made them change it at half-time and they put two up front.

“Nathan Tyson coming on up top with Akwasi Asante gave them a different option, a different outball to get down the sides of us a little bit, so the game changed slightly in the second-half.”