Forest Green Rovers return to winning ways in the National League with a 2-0 win against Eastleigh.
After Saturday's 14 minutes of action, Forest Green Rovers returned to the New Lawn, where goals from Will Grigg and Filozofe Mabete sealed all three points.
Forest Green came into the game with an unchanged eleven as Will Grigg made his home debut for Rovers.
Rovers will next face Harrogate Town in their second game of the week as they look to build on their last two results.
Forest Green's first chance came when Kelvin Abrefa turned past his defender before finding Grigg in the box, but his header was saved by Nick Townsend.
The Spitfires finally had their first shot of the game as Hady Ghandour fired from outside the box, with his effort flying wide of the goal.
Harry Sidwell received the first booking 15 minutes into the game as a late challenge saw the midfielder in the referee's book.
Kyle Kelly started to cause trouble on the left flank as he dribbled towards the box with options available, but his crossed ball went towards goal, and his effort hit the crossbar.
But in the 28th minute, Grigg scored the opening goal with an amazing drive from Abrefa, creating the goal as he beat two defenders to feed the ball into the box and put it on a plate for the attacker who knew exactly where to be.
A free kick opportunity fell for Jayden Clarke just before the 45th minute, but his audacious effort could not find the target.
On the brink of half-time, it was evident that Eastleigh could not handle the pressure of Forest Green's attacks, with the hosts being the team in front at the interval.
Half-Time - FGR 1-0 Eastleigh
Kyle McAllister found the first chance of the half, forcing a save from Townsend as he travelled into the box, cutting past defenders, but his shot was parried away by the Eastleigh goalkeeper.
Tom McIntyre came to the rescue not long after as Jonny Williams' headed attempt was blocked on the line, with another effort cleared away from McIntyre moments later.
An equaliser against the run of play was close.
Max Dickov produced a bit of magic with 30 minutes to go, driving towards goal before finding himself in space to produce an opportunity; his effort was rewarded with a corner for the Spitfires.
Clarke had another go at a free kick, with his second attempt getting the Rovers fans off their feet as his set-piece attempt canoned off the crossbar.
One did eventually become two as Clarke's crosses continued to cause trouble.
His second in quick succession landed at the feet of Mabete; the centre-half made no mistake and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from a couple of yards out.
With only a matter of minutes left, Clarke was still on the hunt to add his name to the scoresheet as D'mani Mellor's low-driven cross found him open in the box, but his effort was saved.
As three minutes were added on, Eastleigh had no chance to find any sort of comeback and Rovers came away with a well-earned three points at home.
A professional and well-executed display from the home team.
Full-Time - FGR 2-0 Eastleigh
THE TEAMS
FGR – McNicholas, Sass (Kengni 23'), Mabete, McIntyre, Abrefa, Campbell, Clarke, McAllister, Kelly (Haughton 78'), Etaluku (Ideanyi 78'), Grigg (Mellor 63').
Subs (Not Used) - Ross, Kircough, Ewing.
EASTLEIGH – Townsend, Caprice (Rankine 46'), Sidwell (Hawkins 82'), Eweka, Dickov, Randall (Stone 77'), Blair, Dobson-Ventura, Koiki (Johnson 46'), Ghandour (Williams 46'), Cousins.
Subs (Not Used) - Jeffries, Bakare.
Match Officials – Harrison Blair (Referee), Alex Rolfe and Kev Morris (Assistant Referees), Callum Fisk (Fourth Official).
Attendance – 1147. (46 Away)
