New Woking manager Jermain Defoe’s reign got off to a dramatic start as his side drew 3-3 at home to Eastleigh in the National League.

Kian Pennant’s 85th-minute equaliser earned the Cards a share of the spoils as they came back from 3-1 down in front of a crowd of 3,517 at The Laithwaite Community Stadium.

The Spitfires had the first shot at goal of the afternoon in the eighth minute, but Jake Vokins dragged his effort wide of the far post.

Vokins won a loose ball four minutes later and fired a left-footed effort at goal which was smartly held by Cards keeper Will Jaaskelainen.

The Cards created their first chance of the afternoon on 13 minutes when Caleb Richards whipped an inviting cross into the box from the left which found Olly Sanderson, whose header was well held by Eastleigh keeper Josh McNamara.

Woking took the lead in the 16th minute when Aaron Drewe’s superb cross from the right found Harry Beautyman, who buried his header into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The Spitfires nearly got back on level terms on 36 minutes when Aaron Blair’s curling right-foot shot from long range went just over the bar.

Eastleigh went even closer three minutes later when Ricky Aguiar’s cross from the right found Jayden Moore, whose header rattled the top of the crossbar.

The visitors got back on level terms in fortunate fashion in the 45th minute when a mix-up at the back saw Tunji Akinola’s header beat Jaaskelainen, who sprinted back towards his line but was unable to stop the ball finding the back of the net.

Eastleigh created the first chance of the second half on 48 minutes when Harvey Saunders drove into the box and sliced his shot wide of the near post.

The visitors took the lead in the 54th minute when Blair played Vokins through on goal, and Vokins jinked around Jaaskelainen before squeezing the ball home from a tight angle.

Defoe made a double change on the hour mark, with Steve Turner and Pennant replacing Timmy Akinola and Beautyman.

The Cards nearly got back on level terms in the 63rd minute when Ward played a neat one-two with Sanderson before flashing an inviting ball across the box from the right which no one was able to get on the end of.

Woking went close again three minutes later when Drewe’s corner picked out Joe Gbode at the back post, whose header went just wide.

The visitors nearly went 3-1 up on 68 minutes when the ball bounced invitingly for Moore in the box, but he fired his effort over the bar.

Eastleigh did score their third in the 70th minute when Blair’s shot was diverted in by Temi Eweka from close range.

Defoe made a double change on 73 minutes, with Dale Gorman and Jack Turner replacing Jake Forster-Caskey and Gbode.

Ward got in behind Eastleigh’s defence a minute later and flashed an inviting ball across the box, but again no one was able to get on the end of it.

The Cards pulled a goal back in the 77th minute when Pennant’s low shot across goal was parried away by McNamara, and Sanderson headed the rebound home into the empty net.

Defoe made his fifth and final substitution on 82 minutes, with Tommy Taylor replacing Sanderson.

Woking got their leveller in the 85th minute, when Pennant fired home at the second attempt into the right-hand corner of the net after his initial effort had been blocked.

The Cards looked for a late winner, but the spoils were shared on Defoe’s debut in the Woking dugout.

Next up for Woking is a trip to Braintree Town in the National League on Easter Monday (3pm kick-off).