TREBLE KING McCALLUM RELIEVED BY LATE CALL

PAUL McCallum notched his second hat-trick of the season – but was saved from being on the losing side by an assistant referee’s flag as Solihull Moors fought back to almost snatch a dramatic victory.

Eastleigh were 3-1 up midway through the second half when the National League’s top scorer completed his treble to take his season tally to 29.

Jack Stevens curled the West Midlanders back into the contest before subsitute Tahvon Campbell climbed off the bench to equalise with two minutes of normal time remaining.

And deep into added time with Eastleigh hanging on, Campbell burried a header past Joe McDonnell but was adjudged to have veered into an offside position, sparking mass protests and a plethora of yellow cards.

“We should have won it in the end,” said Solihull boss Andy Whing. “I didn’t think it was offside. It’s frustrating but I’m really proud of the players for the way they fought back.

“We were dire in the first half, so poor. Too passive, too slow. That’s not us, but we got behind Eastleigh in the second half and were much better.”

Solihull, who have contested a play-off place all season, were woeful defensively in the first half and trailed 2-0 at the break to two trademark McCallum headers.

They totally failed to deal with a 25th-minute Ben Reeves set-piece, which McCallum gleefully glided past Nick Hayes.

Twelve minutes later, and after McDonnell had palmed a Jamey Osborne free-kick on to his own crossbar, Solihull gifted Eastleigh a second.

Midfielder Joe Sbarra lost possession and Enzio Boldewijn got to the right byline to feed McCallum once again.

The red-hot striker thought he’d bagged a first half hat-trick when he bulletted Lee Hodson’s cross into the top corner, only for his celebrations to be halted by an offside flag. Beaten by lowly Kidderminster Harriers in midweek, Solihull upped the anti after the break and pinned a leggy Eastleigh on the back foot.

Osborne fired them back into the contest with a superb 25-yarder into the top corner and then after a sucession of corners – they forced 13 in total – McDonnell brought off stunning point blank save to deny Stevens. Midway through the second half, McCallum completed his hat-trick by applying the final touch to a towering far post Scott Quigley header, but even at 3-1 down the visitors were not finished.

Stevens curled a 74th minute left-foot shot past McDonnell and then, with two minutes left, Campbell equalised after a fine run by the impressive Jon Benton.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Moors thought they had won it when Campbell headed home Benton’s cross, only for the linesman’s flag to rescue Kelvin Davis’ men at the death. STAR MAN: Paul McCallum (Eastleigh) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Ritchie Watkins