Aaron Blair’s hat-trick did the damage for the Spitfires, with goals one, two and four - the fourth in stoppage time as the Pilgrims pushed strongly for a third leveller.

Dion Rankine scored Eastleigh’s third with the goal of the game on the hour mark.

Paul Hurst had made five changes ahead of the early kick-off, with Connor Teale sidelined through injury.

BLAIR struck the opening blow in the 22nd minute, pouncing at the second attempt, but United were level within five minutes when Nelson Khumbeni upended Ollie Bostock and JOHN-LEWIS crashed home his spot-kick high above the dive of Nick Townsend.

BLAIR re-established the Spitfires' lead in the 29th minute, only for ROONEY to rifle home a beauty two minutes later to ensure parity at half-time.

Townsend made an incredible 57th minute save to deny Bostock - and it laid the platform for the home side re-asserting their lead three minutes later, with RANKINE picking his spot from 20 yards to give Louis Chadwick no chance.

Ken Aboh struck what he thought was another United equaliser but was penalised for handball while Townsend produced a terrific save to deny substitute Tom Cursons from close-range.

Rooney curled a last-gasp effort off target and Eastleigh subsequently added their fourth from their next foray forward - with BLAIR completing his treble.

Eastleigh (4-4-1-1): Nick Townsend; Jake Caprice, Ibrahim Bakare, Tommy Dobson-Ventura, Nelson Khumbeni (Ali Koiki 30); Max Dickov, Josh Lundstram (Harry Sidwell 90), Jordan Cousins, Dion Rankine (Barney Stone 75); Hady Ghandour; Aaron Blair. Subs (not used): Will Randall, Ollie Hawkins, Jonny Williams, Josh Jeffries (gk).

Boston (4-4-1-1): Louis Chadwick; Sai Sachdev, Niall Canavan, Jamie Grimes, Lewis Shipley; Ollie Bostock (Tom Cursons 70), Jake Rooney, Terrell Agyemang, Ken Aboh; Lennon Wheeldon (Jack Holmes 84); Lenell John-Lewis. Subs (not used): Connor McBride, Georgie Gent, Ben Hammond, Nicholas Pozo, Luke Faxon (gk).

Referee: Niall Smith.

Attendance: 1,918 (125 visitors).

PIC: Chris Bray.