It wasn't quite a smash-and-grab but this loss will feel a little like that for Steve Burr and his Chester FC squad.

Play-off hopefuls Eastleigh returned to Hampshire with a crucial three points, a second-half goal from sub Dan Walker proving enough for an undeserved win

An out-of-sorts Chester didn't do enough themselves for the victory and when that happens there's always a chance things will turn sour.

Defeat leaves them nine points off the play-offs and probably ends hopes of them breaking into the that group, yet it's a credit to the progress the manager and his players have made that there was even talk of that at this stage.

Wins over Kidderminster, Welling and Lincoln, twice, had taken the Blues into the top 10 and another three points would have seen them leapfrog their opponents.

With one the league's bigger budgets and deeper squads, Easteligh's position in the table could be considered an underacheivement.

There was no shortage of experience or talent available to manager Richard Hill, yet just two wins from seven games in 2015 was not promotion form.

Steve Burr was forced into two changes from the 1-0 win at Sincil Bank with Michael Kay suspended and Oliver McBurnie having returned to Bradford City. Kieran Charnock replaced Kay as Ben Heneghan's partner in central defence and Craig Hobson started for the first time since January 4.

Eastleigh made four changes from a 2-1 home defeat to Torquay United with Dan Spence, Ben Strevens, Jack Midson and James Constable returning.

Chester didn't start with enough sharpness and most of the early running came from the visitors, who had an obvious size advantage across the pitch.

Sean McConville did test Ross Flitney with a decent strike from 20 yards but the clearest chance fell to Spitfires midfielder Harry Pell, who blazed over from 15 yards.

Eastleigh's compact formation restricted the time and space, and the Blues couldn't gain a foothold in the match as a result.

There was not much between the teams and it took until the half hour for the game to really begin to open up.

Flitney made a decent stop down to his right when Hobson flicked Ryan Higgins' long throw towards goal before Matty Hughes and Higgins had efforts from outside the area.

Chester should have falled behind on 35 minutes when Charnock made an excellent block to prevent Pell getting a shot off and the ball fell for Constable, who somehow fired wide with the goal gaping.

Constable had another chance soon after, pulling his attempt wide from a tight angle, and the Blues responded with Heneghan unable to keep his header down from Hughes' dinked cross.

It was an open end to what had been a tight first-half, and both teams would have felt the goalless scoreline was a fair reflection on things.

Chester had more zip about them in the second period, although there was a concerning moment when Charnock lost Constable and brought him down for a free kick.

Eastleigh's well drilled defence continued to frustrate the Blues but the tide looked to be turning approaching the hour mark.

Hughes' shot evaded the sliding Hobson before rolling past the far post, Flitney pushed out a Rooney free kick that was creeping in and McConville fired over after another Higgins thrown-in had the Spitfires in a spin.

Chester seemed to have taken in control yet found themselves behind when the visitors took the lead on 64 minutes.

Dan Walker, who had replaced Pell only 60 seconds earlier, stole in to poke Jai Reason's excellent cross past Jon Worsnop with his first touch.

It was harsh on the Blues, who brought on Kane Richards and Kingsley James in response, and Eastleigh set about protecting the lead.

Chester went in search of an equaliser but without the fluency in possession that had been such a big part of their excellent form, it never quite happened.

George Thomson replaced an injured Hobson and without a figurehead in attack, the passes became more rushed and over ambitious, and Eastleigh looked increasingly comfortable and didn't ever really look like allowing the lead to slip.

Chester FC: Worsnop, Higgins, Heneghan, Charnock, Roberts, Rooney (Richards 71), Abbott, Mahon, McConville (James 71), Hughes, Hobson (Thomson 79).

Subs: Viscosi, Brown.

Eastleigh: Flitney, Spence, Beckwith, Partington, Green, Stanley, Pell (Walker 63), Strevens, Reason, Midson (Howard 83), Constable (Burton 74).

Subs: McAllister, Evans.

Goal: Walker 64.

Booked: Partington, Walker.

Referee: Richard Martin (Bristol).

Attendance: 2,294.