Former Dagenham & Redbridge striker Paul McCallum hit a hat-trick against his old club as honours finished even in the National League.

Having won 4-1 at Victoria Road when the sides met on Boxing Day, Daggers led by two goals in the return fixture, before McCallum made his mark to help put the Spitfires 4-3 up.

But Inih Effiong ensured the spoils would be shared on the first day of the new year.

Keenan Appiah-Forson fired the first chance of note just over the bar on seven minutes, before Ryan Hill had an effort deflected behind.

Hill had to go off before the half-hour mark, though, and was replaced by Conor Lawless, whose cross was knocked down by Effiong for Tom Eastman to open the scoring on 32 minutes.

Daggers doubled their advantage three minutes later when Shiloh Remy's shot was cleared off the line and Josh Rees tapped in from close range.

But the hosts hit back through McCallum on 39 minutes and, after Effiong fired one chance over and saw another ruled out for offside, it was all square at the break after the experienced striker claimed his second in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Effiong's header from a Frank Vincent cross forced Joe McDonnell into a low save soon after the restart, but Eastleigh then took the lead on 49 minutes through Jayden Harris.

The home side's joy was shortlived as Daggers got back on terms on 56 minutes, when Harry Phipps headed a deep Jake Hessenthaler corner back across goal for Rees to net his second of the game.

Elliot Justham tipped a 25-yard free-kick from Chris Maguire around a post midway through the second half, but was beaten once again when McCallum completed his hat-trick.

Remy and Appiah-Forson made way for Nik Tavares and Freddie Sears in a double change on 74 minutes, with Effiong firing over soon after.

Maguire shot wide from close range, before Ling saw a far-post header from Hessenthaler's delivery saved by McDonnell.

But Effiong levelled things up once again on 80 minutes with a brilliant strike from outside the box which appeared to catch McDonnell napping. And the unmarked Sears then volleyed over from Vincent's left-wing cross four minutes from time.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Ling, Eastman, Hill (Lawless 27), Vincent, Hessenthaler, Rees, Remy (Tavares 74), Phipps, Appiah-Forson (Sears 74), Effiong. Unused subs: Kendall, Ibie.