CHRIS Todd’s hopes of landing the vacant Eastleigh manager’s job took a jolt with a 2-0 home defeat by Braintree Town this afternoon.

With top scorer James Constable out injured and still no Paul Reid or Jamie Turley in central defence, the Spitfires were distinctly second best as goals by Kenny Davis (penalty) and Michael Cheek carried the Iron to a 2-0 Vanarama National League victory.

The Spitfires made one enforced change from the side that won 3-2 at Wrexham last week – Ross Lafayette replacing six-goal top gun James Constable, who has a thigh problem.

Young Lewis Noice continued in goal, despite Spitfires No1 Ross Flitney being free from suspension, and had his first save to make after a minute when Dan Sparkes curled a free-kick round the Eastleigh wall.

The Spitfires’ player-of-the-month for September Yemi Odubade then had a shot charged down amid cries of handball from fans soaking up the autumn sunshine behind the clubhouse end goal.

With both sides showing plenty of attacking intent, Lafayette skipped inside two Braintree challenges on the right corner of the area but fired straight at the Iron’s on-loan Cambridge United keeper Will Norris.

After a lively start, the game hit a bit of a lull, but Eastleigh were awoken with a start when Sparkes capitalised on a mistake on the left and, but for a brave challenge by Michael Green, would have had a free shot on goal.

Eastleigh responded positively with Lee Cook testing Norris from distance before causing mayhem with a whipped ball into the area, but the hosts suffered a major blow on 31 minutes when Braintree took the lead via the penalty spot.

Having rescued his side minutes earlier, Green tripped Michael Cheek who was heading away from goal on the right of the area and it was skipper Kenny Davis who fired the visitors ahead from the spot, with Noice diving the wrong way.

Ex-Saint Dan Harding stopped a dangerous looking Braintree breakaway with a sturdy tackle inside the centre circle which left both him and Simeon Akinola needing treatment and, with the game getting increasingly tetchy as the half drew to a close, Cook also needed treatment on a shoulder injury.

Half-time: Eastleigh 0 Braintree Town 1

Odubade made way for Jack Midson for the start of the second half and the substitute had an immediate impact, rounding the keeper and playing the ball across the area, but there was no one to get on the end of it.

Braintree, though, soon grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and, but for two good saves by Noice, the Spitfires could have found themselves deeper in arrears.

First the young 'keeper blocked out Cheek and then he saved point-blank with his feet from Akinola’s volley after the visitors had forced a succession of corners.

With confidence visibly draining out of Eastleigh, it seemed only a matter of time before the Iron scored again and they duly did so on the hour.

As a defender himself, caretaker boss Todd will have been appalled by the ease with which Sparkes was allowed to deliver a low cross from the left and by the space Cheek was given to slide the ball home at the far post.

It could have got worse for Eastleigh, but Noice did well to spread himself and keep out Akinola’s diving header and then Braintree’s lively No10 curled another good chance narrowly wide following strong hold-up play by Cheek.

As Braintree backed off, Eastleigh enjoyed more possession but there was no real conviction about their play.

Skipper Ben Strevens rose to meet Andy Drury’s corner, but his header was well wide and then Josh Payne, on for Jai Reason, sent in a free kick which was cleared as far as Lafayette whose shot was charged down.

On 82 minutes Eastleigh were awarded a free kick 20 yards out and Cook’s curling effort arced just wide of the upright with keeper static.

To their credit, the Spitfires kept going to the bitter end with Midson a particular threat.

He headed Dan Harding’s free kick from the left straight at Norris before forcing a late block from the keeper at his left-hand post.

The result drops Eastleigh to 11th, but they are just three points shy of the play-off zone.