BOSS Ady Pennock toasted a year in charge at the New Lawn,but he cut a frustrated figure as his side were denied a scruffy victory by a late James Constable strike.

A third goal of the season for Clovis Kamdjo in the 58th minute looked to have made it a happy anniversary for the Rovers boss, but Constable snatched a point with five minutes to go.

Even at the death, James Norwood should have won it for Roves on a frustrating night between the Vanaram Conference big spenders.

Forty-eight hours after Rovers’ FA Cup exit, Pennock made a raft of changes.

Danny Coles was left out of the squad completely and the in-form quartet of Dale Bennett, Marcus Kelly, James Norwood and Rob Sinclair were dropped to the bench with Jon Parkin.

In response, David Pipe ,Chris Stokes, Luke Oliver, Clovis Kamdjo, Lee Hughes and Luke Rodgers were all afforded starts.

Keen not to have a cup hangover, Rovers started brightly. Elliott Frear ran from inside his own half and fed the supporting David Pipe, who cut a ball back for Lee Hughes, who saw his first-time shot blocked inside sixty seconds.

Any insomnia sufferers would have relished this clash as the game developed into a dour war of attrition with chances at a premium .

However, the tepid opening saw tough-tackling midfielder Sam Wedgbury in the book following an over-zealous 19th minute lunge on former Forest Green striker Ben Wright.

The Spirites tried to lift the gloom, but Craig Stanley saw his sliced strike run out for a throw-in to spark an ironic cheer from the home crowd.

It took Rovers 34 minutes to muster their second shot in anger- Hughes slashing wide from a Pipe prod.

Eastleigh responded Constable poking wide from a Wright assist.

The match flickered into life when the leggy Kurtis Guthrie fizzing into Ross Flintey after Wedgbury and Frear conjured an opening before the break.

However, the wayward shooting returned with Hughes firing out of the stadium from a Wedgbury free-kick.

On the cusp of the break, Pipe saw yellow for a touchline lunge on Wright.

Pennock was getting increasingly twitchy as his side huffed and puffed after the break.

A cutting edge was required, but Rodgers tried to lighten the mood with a sweeping ball out to Guthrie and the supporting Pipe saw his cross blocked. Eastleigh’s riposte was immediate-Constable firing wide.

At last the wait was over and Rovers took a 58th minute lead. Hughes played the ball into Kamadjo’s path and the Cameroonian beat Flitney to the ball to nose his side 1-0 up.

Constable had justifiable claims for a penalty a minute later as he fell under an Eddie Osohdi challenge. His reaction saw the former Oxford striker handed a yellow card for his angst.

Norwood entered the fray on 59 minutes in place of Guthrie.

The impressive Pipe got Rovers out of jail when he swept up to avert a ball into the box.

Rovers’ confidence was growing. Quick feet from Hughes allowed Wedgbury to fizz a strike, which the unsighted Flitney did well to fall on.

Fine approach play from Constable failed to match his finish as he dragged his hit over.

Eastleigh were chasing parity with Rovers pegged back With eight minutes s to go Pennock replaced Hughes with Parkin and Sinclair with Rodgers.

Rovers looked to have seen the game out, but slack marking allowed Constable to smash in a Jai Reason cross with just five minutes to go. Eastleigh were at it and Jack Midson almost won it, but shot wide when scoring looked easier.

With a minute to go a sweeping move involving Parkin and Sinclair saw Flitney glove away a Kamdjo stab and the free ball saw Norwood miss a great chance to bag the winner.

Still Rovers attacked and Oshodi saw a stoppage time strike blocked from a Wedgbury free-kick.

Forest Green: S. Russell; D. Pipe, L. Oliver, E. Oshodi, C. Stokes; K. Guthrie (J. Norwood 60), C. Kamdjo, S. Wedgbury, E. Frear; L. Hughes (R. Sinclair 84), L. Rodgers (J. Parkin 84).

Subs not used: D. Bennett, M. Kelly.

Eastleigh: R. Flitney; D. Spence, W. Evans, P. Reid, M. Green; C. Stanley, J. Reason, B. Strevens; S. Fleetwood (C. McAllister 82), J. Constable, B. Wright (J. Midson 62).

Subs not used: C. Todd, Y. Odubade, J. Helm.

Referee: N. Legg (Surrey).

Attendance: 967.

Star man: David Pipe.

Watch Ady Pennock’s reaction to the draw with Eastleigh and his preview to Saturday’s match at Torquay by logging onto this website