For the second time in five days, a team with play-off aspirations left the Beveree pointless, and with their promotion hopes dented.

Alan Devonshire was forced to make one change from Tuesday night’s starting line up, with Lawrence Yaku, replacing Barrie Matthews, who reported in sick early on Saturday morning.

This meant Dave Tarpey dropping back into midfield, to join Dundas and Lake in the engine room.

Like Tuesday night’s opponents, Eastleigh were on the receiving end of a Beavers’ quick 1 – 2, as they were undone by two goals in 3 minutes midway through the 2nd half that seal the points for the home side.

Hampton picked up where they left off in midweek and were in front after 7 minutes. Wells took a free kick in centre field, which was headed on by Hodges and meet by Dundas, who fired home from 12 yards, for his 2nd goal of the week, following a rather lengthy lean spell.

Eastleigh then came to life and sent several threatening crosses across Hampton’s area, but with no end product.

In the 20th minute Yaku was bought down and the resulting free kick saw some good interplay between Tanner and Hodges. Unfortunately Tanner’s cross was wayward.

Lovett, in the home goal saw his first meaningful action a couple of minutes later, when Taggart outpaced Robinson and his cross was met by Gillespie, who’s goal bound effort was saved by the keeper’s legs.

Midway through the half Jeffery’s long ball up field was met by Ian Hodges just inside the area and the Hampton front man was bundled over. Referee Yerby pointed to the spot immediately.

With Matthews absent, Tarpey took the responsibility for the kick, which he despatch clinically.

Now that the home side was 2 goals to the good you could see the confidence that has been sadly missing for most of the season, start to flow through the side.

Tanner sent over a near perfect ball for Hodges, who expertly bought the ball under control and his lob shot was finger tipped to safety by Matthews in the Eastleigh goal.

Hampton continued to probe, and were unfortunate when Yaku’s attempted through ball to Tarpey hit him on his heal, as he sprinted clear on the visitor’s defence.

7 minutes before the break, Eastleigh pulled a goal back when Butler hit a hopeful ball into the area from the right hand touch line.

The ball was hit at pace and eluded Lovett as well as the Hampton defence to find the far corner of the net.

Shortly after the re-start Dev was forced to make a change, not only in personnel, but also formation.

Tanner, who had been a doubt before the kick off, was forced to leave the field to be replaced by Ashley Quashie.

Dean Inman moved to left back in a 4-4-2 formation, with Quashie occupying the left midfield slot.

Hampton continued to make openings without really testing Matthews.

As the half wore on Eastleigh appeared to be gaining the upper hand.

The Beavers’ continued to work hard to keep their opponents at arm’s length. In the 71st minute the tide turned following the defensive header of the season.

Matt Lovett looked well beaten by the dangerous Butler’s goal bound shot.

Captain Fantastic, Dean Wells, headed the ball clear from the top corner of the net, to prevent the visitor’s drawing level.

Four minutes later, instead of the score being 2 all the home side found themselves 4-1 up, when they hit Eastleigh with the old 1-2.

First, Stuart Lake found the net with a sweet strike from the edge of the area following a corner and this was swiftly followed by Dave Tarpey’s second spot kick of the game.

Lawrence Yaku was bought down and the ex Basingstoke man calmly strode up to convert the penalty.

These two goals killed of the contest and closing moments saw Luke Kanjor, on for Yaku, try his luck from long range.

Another 3 pts which sees the Beavers climb a place to 17th and 13 pts above the drop zone.

In the last two games Dev’s team has played anything like a relegation threatened side and have outplayed two promotion hopefuls.