BOSS HESS UNFAZED BY DROUGHT IN STALEMATE

ANDY Hessenthaler was looking on the bright side despite seeing his Eastleigh side failing to score for the fourth league game running.

The Spitfires have now gone 413 minutes since last hitting the back of the net, but at least ended a threematch losing streak against high-riding Fylde.

“It’s a positive,” said Hessenthaler after a result which gave Eastleigh only their fifth clean sheet in 47 National League matches.

“Fylde are a very good team, their movement is very good, but overall we had the best chances.

“That’s the only criticism I can have of my team at the moment we’re not taking our chances.”

The hosts, drawing for the first time this season, had three great chances to have grabbed their first Saturday home win since January 27.

After just six minutes, the ball broke kindly for Mark Yeates but Jay Lynch got down well to save a low shot.

That was virtually the only time Eastleigh threatened in a first half where Fylde looked the side most likely to break the deadlock.

But the Spitfires were a vastly improved attacking force after the break, and midfielder Cav Miley should have scored on 53 minutes. Josh Hare’s cross to the back post was nodded down by Paul McCallum, but the unmarked Miley fired over from 12 yards out.

With debutant midfielder Jack Payne growing in stature as the game progressed, substitute Chris Zebroski had Eastleigh’s best chance late on – heading over from close range after Fylde had failed to clear a corner. The nearest Fylde came to a goal was in the 17th minute when a lovely onetouch move ended with the unmarked Jim Kellermann firing straight at Graham Stack. Danny Rowe – the division’s joint top scorer with seven goals – was largely restricted to trying his luck from distance. A second- minute freekick almost went out of the ground while another free-kick three minutes later was blocked by the Eastleigh wall. Rowe, subdued for most of the second period as the hosts moved into the ascendancy, had one late half-chance but volleyed a corner over. Fylde boss Dave Challinor was happy enough following their midweek home loss to Salford. “It was probably the right result,” he remarked. “I don’t think either side really did enough to win it. “We’ll settle for a point. I wanted us to bounce back after Tuesday’s result and we did that.” Hessenthaler saluted Payne’s debut, on the Ebbsfleet loanee’s first start, adding: “His game fitness isn’t there yet but he grew into the game and he’ll be a real asset.”