EASTLEIGH moved to within four points of the National League play-off places with a 2-0 win over rock-bottom Ebbsfleet United.

The hosts went close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute, when it took an excellent save from Mark Cousins to keep out Chris Maguire’s close-range header.

But the breakthrough came six minutes later when Lloyd Humphries flicked on a free-kick to leave Niall Maher with a simple finish.

Captain Jake Taylor made sure of the win with a powerful left-footed finish in the 64th minute, his fourth goal in seven games.

After the match, manager Kelvin Davis said: "In the end, it was a positive performance and in the terms of the result was good.

"We didn't quite get into our flow and get into our groove and it was slightly disappointing but it was never going to be a walkover.

"There was always going to be a job to be done and we did our work probably not as efficiently as I'd liked, but we got two goals and a clean sheet.

"I felt that at the weekend we dropped our standards, came away from what we do and how we've been and I felt there was a bit of that in the first half.

"We communicated about that in the dressing room. We just needed a level up and get back to our high energy and what we expect from the team."

On the impressive form of skipper Taylor, Davis added: "I was really pleased for Jake to get another goal and take it so well.

"Jake's our captain. He's been fantastic for us in the time I've been at the club and he's on the back of a strong season. 

"As a captain, he leads by example. He's great for the coaching staff in feeding our message into the group and he's a guy that we like having around."

Star striker Paul McCallum made his return at the Silverlake with a late cameo, having missed the last eight National League matches through injury.

"Macca's on the back of a calf injury and he's slightly ahead of schedule," said Davis, of the man who has 77 goals in 136 matches for Eastleigh.

"Great work from him and great work from the physio department in getting him back to the level so quick. It's a good time. We lost Quiggs with an ankle injury. 

"We'll see how Scott goes. Probably unlikely for the weekend, but you never know when the team's in a good place. The lads all want to be involved.

"Any recovery starts with the mind. Quiggs will do everything he can, I know that. We'll see what improvements we can make for the weekend."

The Spitfires welcome Hartlepool to Hampshire on Saturday, and Davis said: "It's a tough game. They've always been a tough opponent in the two games.

"That's been the case since we've been here at this level with them. It will be, no doubt, another tough one on Saturday."