BEN Strevens remains adamant he is the right person to lead Eastleigh forward – despite yesterday's setback against Aldershot Town.

Strevens’ first game in caretaker charge ended in a 2-1 Hampshire derby defeat at the Silverlake, bringing the curtain down on a run a four straight wins and six games unbeaten in the National League.

The vibe from the dressing room suggests the players are right behind Strevens in his bid to succeed Andy Hessenthaler on a permanent basis.

But although there was no lack of effort against Aldershot, the Spitfires failed to impose themselves after Paul McCallum had fired them in front with less than five minutes gone.

The Shots – who had not won an away game all season – hit back with two goals in a devastating three-minute spell, and it would been even worse but for a terrific one-on-one save by Max Stryjek wedged in between.

It wasn’t the result Strevens wanted on his fledgling managerial CV, but the 38-year-old former Barnet and Wycombe forward/ midfielder is convinced he can bring long-term stability to the club after a week of upheaval.

Just four days after announcing Hessenthaler’s move to Dover Athletic, the Spitfires revealed that three board members – chairman Mark Jewell, finance director Joanne Sprigg and director Alan Harding – had also departed.

Speaking after the game, Strevens said: “There were probably 50 managers sat in the stand today willing me to lose, so they’ll have gone away happy, but I still maintain I’m the best person to manage this club.

“People will say I’m young and this and that, but everyone starts somewhere. You don’t get given your first job at 50, do you? All the best managers started out by someone giving them a chance.

“The application deadline is Friday and it’s a big decision for Kenny (Amor, chief executive), Tom (Coffey, operations director) and the rest of the board because over the last three or four years we’ve had a couple of appointments that didn’t work out. That’s why I wasn’t expecting them to give me the job straightaway.”

Almost 600 travelling Shots fans were temporarily silenced when McCallum got the post-Hessenthaler era off to a dream start, shirking off the attentions of defender Gabriel Osho as Mark Yeates’ lofted pass came in and slotting past keeper Jake Cole.

But the Spitfires seldom threatened after that as the Shots took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Pressure had been building on the Eastleigh defence when Joey Jones – in for injured right wingback Josh Hare - was pick-pocketed by Adam McDonnell, who played in Matt McClure. Stryjek turned his shot onto the post, but the ball rebounded across the face of goal and went in off Eastleigh skipper Reda Johnson.

Stryjek denied McDonnell with his feet seconds later but, from the resulting corner, Adam May flicked on for Scott Rendell to score at the far post – the officials ruling the ball had crossed the line before it was hacked clear.

“The boys are gutted and I’m gutted. They’ve apologised,” said Strevens. “Joey Jones has held his hand up for the first goal and leaving Scott Rendell unmarked at the back stick is unacceptable.

“There was no lack of effort or commitment today, but I was brutally honest with the boys and said there was a lack of quality.

"It's hard to take because we'd had such a positive week after the bad news at the beginning of it (Hessenthaler leaving) and I'd enjoyed every second of it.

“But I’ve lost someone I relied on in Hessy and it’s been tough with just me and Rosco (Ross Flitney, goalkeeping coach) doing everything.

“Moving forward it would be great to have a coach to work with me and help me."

Eastleigh: Max Stryjek, Joey Jones, Michael Green, Alex Wynter (Ben Williamson, 55), Reda Johnson, Andrew Boyce (James Constable, 84), Oscar Gobern, Cav Miley, Paul McCallum, Chris Zebroski, Mark Yeates. Subs (not used): Ross Flitney, Ollie Dennett, Danny Hollands.

Referee: Carl Brook.

Attendance: 2,349.