Eastleigh have goalkeeper sent off after six minutes in costly defeat to Sutton

National League strugglers Eastleigh suffered a third straight defeat after goalkeeper Nick Townsend saw red in the sixth minute of their 2-0 loss at home to Sutton.

The Spitfires were reduced to 10 men when Townsend was sent off for a late challenge.

And the visitors took just seven minutes to capitalise as Kai Jennings scored directly from a corner.

Charlie Bell fired narrowly over the crossbar before the break but Sutton had to wait until the 80th minute to wrap up three points when Brandon Njoku blasted home a second.

Eastleigh sit just four points above the relegation zone with six games to play, with Sutton moving eight points clear of trouble.