Eastleigh 2 Guiseley 1: Guiseley will still be looking for their first points of the new National League campaign when they host Wrexham on Tuesday after suffering a narrow defeat in their season opener.

Despite a battling second-half display, they lost by the odd goal in Hampshire.

Eastleigh took a two-goal lead into the break after scoring early and adding a second two minutes before half-time. The Spitfires flew out of the blocks at the Silverlake Stadium and their fast start left the Lions licking their wounds.

The home side were a goal to the good after just ten minutes as Andy Drury slotted in from close range after Guiseley centre back Adam Lockwood failed to deal with a good ball into the area.

There were some promising openings created by the visitors and Will Hatfield made room for a shot just two minutes after Eastleigh took the lead but he fired wide from the edge of the area.

Nicky Clee saw a shot curl just wide and he and Lions skipper Michael Rankine combined well midway through the first period before Clee’s cross was cut out.

Eastleigh were still threatening and looking dangerous on the break but with six minutes of the first half remaining the Spitfires’ keeper Ross Flitney was tested for the first time. Clee’s shot from distance was saved by the home side’s stopper.

They doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Joe Partington headed a Jake Howells free-kick past Dan Atkinson. The Lions’ keeper was treading a fine line after picking up a yellow card in the first minute for handling outside his area.

Mark Bower’s men were undaunted by the scoreline and went into the second half with determination. They pulled a goal back before the hour mark when substitute Adam Smith claimed an assist with his first touch.

Smith came on for Jordan Preston and within a minute he had put the ball in for Rankine to head home. It sparked a good period for the Lions but they couldn’t capitalise on that.

Against the run of play Eastleigh launched a great attack and Atkinson came for a cross but missed it. The Guiseley keeper was rescued by Marcus Williams, who cleared Mikael Mandron’s header off the line.

Atkinson denied Mandron later when the forward lashed a shot on the turn goalwards but it was the visitors who came closest to scoring. Just into injury time Ashley Palmer was thwarted as Flitney pulled off a top-drawer save to tip a header over.