Sam Hoskins' well taken goal on 20 minutes was enough for a young Saints side to overcome Eastleigh at the Silverlake Satadium.

The seventeen year-old's smart finish inside the area arrived after he linked up with fellow striker Ryan Doble on the edge of the box before firing low past Gareth Barfoot to give the visitors an advantage that they held on to.

Eastleigh: Barfoot (Matthews 46), Smith, Goodhind, Brown, Jordan, Holland, Palmer (Osman 83), Bottomley, Slabber, Gillespie, Graham. Subs (not used): Robinson, Mason, Maxwell, Easton.

Saints: Bialkowski, Saville, A. Martin, Tafazolli, Reeves (Foot 77), Chamberlain (Garrod 60), Robinson, Pulis, Isgrove, Doble, Hoskins. Subs (not used): Forecast, B. Martin.

Referee: Mr. D. Treleaven

Attendance: 1,655

Saints named a young side at Eastleigh with Aaron Martin skippering the side against his former club.

The opening exchanges were even and competitive with both sides keen to get the ball down and play.

It wasn't until the sixteenth minute that the first warning came from the hosts as Richard Gillespie, who had earlier fired one over the bar from distance, crashed a header from a cross on the right on to Bartosz Bialkowski's crossbar with the ball bouncing comfortably into the Polish stopper's arms.

Saints responded immediately with Sam Hoskins cutting inside from the left and creating an opening to shoot which was parried by goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot, but gathered by the custodian before Anthony Pulis could follow in.

However, on 20 the visitors took the lead with a neat move started and finished by forward Hoskins. He played the ball into strike partner Ryan Doble who then laid it back into the youngster's path where he drew the 'keeper with his first touch before quickly slotting home into the far corner.

With Saints now building the pressure after the goal, Doble was somehow denied as he tried to stab home from close range and the Welshman narrowly missed getting on the end of tricky winger's Lloyd Isgrove's low cross.

Five minutes before the break the Spitfires saw Jamie Slabber's header go over the top, but it was Saints who continued to look the livelier with Alex Chamberlain and Isgrove continuing to threaten on either flank.

Half Time: Eastleigh 0-1 Saints

Eastleigh replaced Barfoot between the posts with Jason Matthews for the second 45 minutes, but no other changes were made by either side.

As with the first half, the second period took a little while to warm up before Saints almost added to their advantage in style. Chamberlain picked up the ball on the right and fed Isgrove on the opposite side. The speedy winger then cut inside and smashed a shot towards the top corner which Matthews had to parry to safety.

On the hour the visitors withdrew Chamberlain for Tony Garrod, with Doble supporting the substitute in attack and Hoskins moving out to the right flank.

In the 68th minute Jack Saville ventured forward from right back and linked up well on the edge of the box, breaking into the area, but the former Chelsea youngster couldn't get enough power in his shot as the ball ran loose into the 'keeper's arms.

The hosts almost hit back two minutes later as Richard Graham's corner from the left was powerfully met by the head of Jamie Brown, but Bialkowski, who had had little else to do in the second half, was alert to the danger with a fine reflex save at close range.

With twelve minutes remaining Lloyd Foot replaced Ben Reeves in defence with the substitute slotting in at right back, allowing Jack Saville to move across to a more natural left back position.

Inisde the last ten minutes Jamie Brown again went close for Eastleigh as he capitalised on a loose ball inside the area, but smashed his effort over the top of Bialkowski's goal.

Tony Garrod missed a one on one and Gillespie saw a header saved at the other end before Spitfires boss Iain Baird made his second change of the game, by bringing on Toby Osman for Stafforde Palmer in midfield with six minutes left to play.

Saints saw out the game comfortably enough as they rounded of pre season with a win against the local non-league side ahead into the new campaign.

Full Time: Eastleigh 0-1 Saints