GOALS late in the first half from Johnny Mullins and Danny Hylton gave Oxford United victory in a pre-season friendly at Eastleigh.

The display was comfortably their best of the summer in a game which at times had a physical edge which made it more competitive than a typical pre-season game.

It might have been different if Eastleigh had taken either of two good chances laid on by Yemi Odubade, one of which was wasted by fellow ex-United striker James Constable.

But having survived the twin scares, United took advantage and Mullins bundled in Alex MacDonald's header on 44 minutes, before Hylton classily doubled the advantage in stoppage time.

United were rarely troubled after the break as they turned in an encouraging all-round performance a fortnight before the start of the Sky Bet League Two season.

Danny Rose replaced Michael Collins in the only change to the starting line-up from the 1-0 defeat at Woking on Tuesday.

Boss Michael Appleton wanted to see more of a cutting edge, but there was little between the sides in the opening exchanges.

It took 23 minutes for the first effort on goal, when MacDonald's swerving shot from range was kept out unconvincingly by Michael Poke.

MacDonald quickly fashioned a better chance thanks to an intelligent lay-off from Ryan Taylor, but could not keep his shot down from just inside the box.

Eastleigh's XI contained four ex-United players - and two combined to carve open their former employers nine minutes before the break.

The lively Odubade burst into space and crossed low for Constable, who skewed his shot wide from eight yards.

He should have scored, but it was the cue for a busy end to the half.

Hylton headed wide from a Kemar Roofe free-kick, before Odubade put another chance on a plate, this time for Andy Drury to blaze over.

The breakthrough came on 44 minutes when Hylton, who was involved in a battle with Eastleigh skipper Paul Reid, was fouled on the edge of the box.

Roofe's free-kick reached the back post, where MacDonald looped a header across goal for Johnny Mullins to bundle in from close range.

Hylton rapidly doubled the lead with a glorious finish, running on to a raking pass and cutting inside Joe Partington before curling a low shot into the far corner.

It was the forward's last action of the afternoon, as he was replaced at the break by Patrick Hoban.

Constable thought he had pulled a goal back four minutes after the restart, nodding in Partington's cross, but an offside flag cut the celebrations short.

The striker was substituted shortly afterwards, walking off to an ovation from both sets of fans. Aside from the disallowed goal, United had a firm grip on the game.

Roofe tested half-time substitute Lewis Noice in the Spitfires' goal and the forward almost lured Paul Reid into an own goal with a low cross which the defender deflected behind for a corner.

Substitutions, mainly from the hosts, saw the game lose its way as the second half wore on.

Callum O'Dowda added impetus off the bench and the winger came close to making it 3-0 on 75 minutes with a shot which flashed just the wrong side of the post.

MacDonald had a late free-kick saved as United went in search of a more convincing victory, but had to make do with their double at the end of the first half.

Eastleigh: Poke (Noice ht), Partington, Evans (Turley ht), Reid, Harding, Midson (Lee 77), Drury (Strevens ht), Payne (Alexander 66), Reason, Odubade, Constable (Cook 56). Unused subs: Todd, Smith, Masterton.

Oxford Utd: Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, Roofe, Sercombe, Rose, MacDonald, Hylton, Taylor.

Subs used: Hoban (Hylton ht), O'Dowda (Taylor 61), Ashby (Sercombe 77).

Unused subs: Crocombe, Dunkley, Collins, Ruffels, Long, Roberts.

Attendance: 1,193.

Referee: Gary Parsons.