Eastleigh scored twice in the final five minutes of the first half to hold a 2-1 advantage over Gateshead in their Conference Premier match.

Eastleigh started the better of the two sides but the first real chance fell to Gateshead's Jamie Chandler, but he couldn't find the back of the net after being released by Marcus Maddison.

However, Chandler made amends for his earlier miss by giving his team the advantage, although it appeared as though Eastleigh's Dean Beckwith may have helped the ball into the net.

Gateshead's opener gave them the confidence to begin playing some of the football that had seen them win their opening two fixtures, but they were unable to test Ross Flitney in the Eastleigh goal.

It looked like Gateshead would go into half time with a slender advantage only for Ben Strevens to send a 30-yard free kick into the top corner five minutes before the break.

It got worse for the visitors a minute before the interval when Jack Midson gave Eastleigh the lead when he connected with a corner.