Eastleigh have registered a 2-0 victory at Halifax Town to move into fourth position in the Conference Premier table.
Saturday's results had left the race for a playoff spot wide open, and Eastleigh soon signalled their intent on capitalising on their opportunity when taking an early lead thanks to an own goal from Marc Roberts.
Moments later, a corner from Jai Reason was headed over by James Constable as Halifax struggled to get going in a game that they needed to win to have any chance of sneaking into the top five.
The home side improved as the half wore on, but they found themselves trying to prevent a two-goal deficit at the break as Eastleigh probed for a second.
Soon after the restart, the second goal did arrive through Constable, who controlled the ball on his chest before lobbing Matt Glennon from an acute angle.
Craig McAllister squandered a chance to make it three, and that resulted in Halifax coming back into the match, with Roberts and Danny Hattersley both being denied by solid stops from Ross Flitney.
In the closing stages, Flitney was forced into action again to keep out Hattersley, but that proved to be their final chance as Eastleigh moved above Forest Green Rovers and Macclesfield Town in the standings.
Darren Plant
