EASTLEIGH manager Richard Hill hit out at the referee's performance as a late penalty stung Eastleigh in a 1-1 draw at Gateshead on Tuesday evening.

Gateshead midfielder Luke Hannant scored a penalty deep into added time to salvage a point for the hosts at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Gateshead's mini-recovery appeared to have come to a shuddering halt after back-to-back wins as they were behind with the additional five minutes already played.

However, they were saved by the award of a spot-kick which Hannant converted in the seventh extra minute.

Eastleigh had taken the lead nine minutes after half-time with Dutchman Enzio Boldewijn curling home a superb effort from the left corner of the penalty area.

The concession of the late equaliser extended their run of games without a win to nine, stretching back to December 23, and leaves them seven points off the bottom four.

Speaking to Eastleigh's media team after the game, Hill said: "That wasn't late heartbreak. The lads were fantastic tonight.

"Once again we have had an injustice by an official who has only seen one way for the last 30 minutes of the game.

"That performance wasn't good enough from the referee. It was the first game that I have been involved with where we have never had one free kick in the first half.

"I think the total sum of free-kicks we had for the whole game was three. Three free-kicks for the whole game. 

"The lads were amazing tonight. We knew they would have loads of possession. We worked really hard during the week to plug them gaps.

"There was supposed to be five minutes of added time, the penalty was given in the 96th minute. Work that one out because I can't.

"You can't blame our players for that. The lads were amazing, defensively we were solid. Aaron Martin has made a big difference to that so credit to him."