Hartlepool United extended their unbeaten run to six games in the Enterprise National League after an emphatic 2-0 win against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.  

Goals from Cameron John and Nathan Sheron early in the second period made it back-to-back victories for Pools away from home, following a 1-0 win against FC Halifax Town last time out on the road.  

Nicky Featherstone named an unchanged starting 11 from last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wealdstone, while Jermaine Francis and Nathan Ferguson returned to the squad from international duty.  

Pools started the brighter side and created an opening four minutes in, with no Pools player on hand to poke home Matty Daly’s teasing cross into the penalty area.  

On 36 minutes, Adam Campbell’s lofted pass released Alex Reid one-on-one, but the striker couldn’t find a corner with his powerful strike. 

As the first half came to a close, Pools again piled on pressure. This time, two crosses from Jay Benn caused all sorts of problems for Eastleigh. 

The first was met by Daly, who saw his low effort parried away by Townsend, before Reid rattled the crossbar with his header from close range. 

Featherstone’s side carried on their dominance in the second period and quickly found the opener on 49 minutes.  

After well-worked play from the visitors, Reid played the ball out to John on the left flank, who drove into the Spitfires’ penalty area and rifled across goal with conviction into the right corner.  

It did not take long for Pools to double their lead as a dream start to the second half was completed in the 53rd minute.  

Sheron combined expertly with Campbell and, after Eastleigh’s back line dropped off, saw his thumping strike from outside the box nestle into the right corner. 

Just past the hour mark, John’s fizzing shot stung the gloves of Townsend, though, five minutes later, Eastleigh almost halved the deficit as Paul McCallum’s header looped just over the bar.  

With ten minutes of normal time to play, Hartlepool should have scored their third of the match when Jamie Miley led a counter-attack from Pools’ box.  

While three-on-one, with only Lloyd Humphries protecting Townsend, the midfielder opted to lay John off to his right – but the Spitfires were able to regroup and thwart the opportunity.  

As the game headed to injury time, George Evans produced a fine reaction stop to keep out Harvey Saunders’ close-range attempt.