Forest Green produced a late winner to beat Eastleigh 1-0 at The New Lawn on Bank Holiday Monday.

Tom Knowles netted a stoppage time goal to get Rovers over the line maintaining top spot in the National League.

Jayden Clarke was first to test either goalkeeper, he collected the ball on the edge of the box and struck low but Eastleigh 'keeper Nick Townsend was down to stop.

Kieron Evans had the best chance of the half for the visitors following a smart move down the right, but McNicholas was on hand to save well.

Eastleigh gifted Rovers a chance to take the lead with an in-direct free-kick from the six-yard box, but the Spitfires recovered to block behind for a corner from Nick Haughton's strike.

Just a minute before the break, Neil Kengni's floated cross found Kyle McAllister and the back post but his volleyed effort went just over the top.

Half-time: Forest Green 0-0 Eastleigh

Half-time substitute Yahya Bamba came into the game had a great impact - he looked to tee up Mitchell soon after the break, but Eastleigh recovered well to deny the forward.

He was at the heart of the next move as Bamba looked to cross for Harry Whitwell to slide home but another last-ditch interception kept Rovers at bay.

Whitwell came close on 66 minutes, hooking towards goal following Tre Pemberton's cross but it drifted just past the post.

Rovers went close following the introduction of Ryan Inniss - he nodded into the path of Bamba but his strike deflected behind.

But we weren't to be denied a late winner as Knowles struck a free-kick from the best part of 25 yards into the bottom corner.

Full-time: Forest Green 1-0 Eastleigh

Forest Green: McNicholas, Kengni (Cardwell 72), Pemberton, Moore-Taylor, Kanu, Moore (Knowles 54), Mendy, Clarke (Whitwell 45), Haughton (Bamba 45), McAllister (Inniss 80), Mitchell

Subs not used: Pagel, Bunker

Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley, Fernandez (Holzman 45), Eweka, Evans (Lundstram 54 - Davis 83), Taylor (Underhill 73), Blair (Ingram 83), Pierre, Wariuh, Cousins, Harris

Subs not used: McNamara

Attendance: 2,203 (128 away)