CALLUM Stead's second half goal prevented Eastleigh from claiming all three points against National League automatic promotion chasers Barnet on Wednesday.

Stead headed home midway through the second half to make it 1-1 after Tyrese Shade had given the Spitfires a first half lead.

Adebola Oluwo made a late slide tackle to stop Paul McCallum, who had narrowly stayed onside, from winning the game in the final 10 minutes.

Kelvin Davis made one change from the team that drew 2-2 at Yeovil Town on Boxing Day as Scott Quigley dropped out of the squad for McCallum.

Club captain Taylor recovered from his knock at the Glovers to make his 22nd appearance of the season.

McCallum, who won the Golden Boot last season with 31 goals, had endured a run of one goal in 11 National League games before facing his former club.

Both teams went into the game in a rich vein of form, the Spitfires had gone seven games without a loss across all competitions and Barnet were nine unbeaten.

Eastleigh required last-ditch defending in the opening 10 minutes as the visitors came flying out of the traps at a sodden Silverlake Stadium.

Barnet had a weak penalty appeal on eight minutes when Billy Clifford's effort was blocked by a sliding McCallum, causing some orange shirts to call for handball.

Davis' side improved from there and went close through Ludwig Francillette, who struck an effort in a congested box before the flag was raised.

Eastleigh's joy came from switching the play and knocking balls forward to the pacey Shade, who won a free-kick after dropping the shoulder.

The opening goal soon came through the Saint Kitts and Nevis international when he stretched in the air to divert Richard Brindley's cross into the bottom corner on 15 minutes.

Joe McDonnell produced a diving save just before halftime to deny Barnet skipper Anthony Hartigan's dipping free-kick before stopping him again moments later.

Davis had his goalkeeper to thank for taking a 1-0 lead into the break after the 30 year old made an outstanding close-range save on the stroke of halftime.

McDonnell got two hands behind a header from five yards out, and although the rebound found its way into the net, the flag was raised on the far side.

Both sides had chances in a slow second half before play was paused after a head injury to McDonnell, who clashed with a player when going for a cross.

McCallum continued to struggle in front of goal and squandered a good chance to double the lead from Shade's whipped-in delivery.

The hosts were made to pay for that miss when Stead equalised with a header 20 minutes from full-time.

Davis responded by introducing attacker Chris Maguire, fit enough for the bench, in place of Brindley.

With 10 minutes left, McCallum looked as though he was free on goal until Oluwo stole the ball before he could shoot.

Substitute Maguire smashed a free-kick over the crossbar, promoting an annoyed reaction from his boss, just before six additional minutes.

Eastleigh escaped a nervy end at the Silverlake as Barnet went agonisingly close to winning it at the death.

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Brindley (Maguire, 75'), Humphries, Francillette, Maher, Boutin, Taylor, Gape (Hodson, 80'), Waruih, Shade, McCallum.

Unused subs: Scott, Fernandez, Stepien-Iwumene, Semenyo, Underhill.

Barnet: Hayes, Coker, Collinge, Stead, Glover, Brunt (Kabama, 60'), Hartigan, Clifford (Browne, 60'), Oluwo, Tavares (Shelton, 60'), Kellock.

Unused subs: Bellagambi, Kanu, Grimwood, Cropper.

Referee: Wayne Cartmel.

Attendance: 2,188.