TRANMERE Rovers' National League campaign continued with a 2-0 defeat by Eastleigh on Saturday.

Goals from Ben Williamson and Craig McAllister in the second half helped the hosts to victory at the Silverlake Stadium.

Rovers' boss Micky Mellon made two changes to the team which drew 0-0 at Guiseley on Tuesday evening with Jay McEveley and Jack Dunn replaced in the starting line-up by Ritchie Sutton and James Norwood, returning from his three-match suspension.

And the early signs were good as Andy Cook had an opportunity after just two minutes, hitting a powerful effort which had to be deflected over the crossbar.

At the other end, Mark Yeates had a shot against the side netting before Connor Jennings headed over the crossbar from 12 yards after a dozen minutes.

Ben Williamson headed wide from close range a couple of minutes later before a spell of to and fro play with neither team able to build any attacks of note.

On the half hour mark, Yeates fired over from a 20 yard free kick before Rovers went straight down the other end and Jennings had a shot saved by Ross Flitney.

A minute later, Jennings went close to breaking the deadlock when Adam Buxton sent over a cross from the right and the former Wrexham man flicked a header against the foot of the post before Eastleigh scrambled the ball away from danger.

It remained goalless at the break with Eastleigh boss Richard Hill introducing striker Craig McAllister into the fray in place of Chris Zebroski during the interval.

The veteran forward seemed to make a difference, winning headers and bringing his team mates into play but it was Rovers who had the first opening of the second period with Jennings firing a shot from distance which Flitney saved.

On the hour mark, a ball forward from the right bounced over the despairing head of Eastleigh defender Andrew Boyce and James Norwood raced onto it but his shot went across the face of the goal and just wide.

Jack Dunn came on to replace Jay Harris straight after before the home side opened the scoring on 63 minutes when Ben Williamson did well down the right, he cut inside and fired a shot into the net past Scott Davies.

Rovers battled to get back into the game and a quick counter attack down the right resulted in Ollie Norburn sending a low cross into the penalty area only for an Eastleigh defender to nick the ball away from Jeff Hughes before he could shoot on goal.

Jennings and Dunn had efforts on goal soon after before the former was replaced by James Alabi on 77 minutes.

Eastleigh doubled their lead on 79 minutes when a left wing corner was headed onto the underside of the crossbar and in by McAllister.

Dunn and Buxton had shots from distance in the latter stages but it wasn’t to be and Eastleigh take all three points.

Match stats

Eastleigh: Flitney, Obileye, Wood, Howe, Boyce, Stearn (Matthews), Togwell, Yeates, Zebroski (McAllister 46), Hollands, Williamson (Constable).

Tranmere Rovers: Davies, Buxton, Ridehalgh, McNulty, Sutton, Hughes, Harris (Dunn 60), Norburn, Jennings (Alabi 77), Cook, Norwood. Subs not used: Pilling, Waring, Mangan.

Attendance: 1906 (330).

Rovers face Boreham Wood at Prenton Park in National League action this Saturday, kick-off 3pm.