NON-LEAGUE‘S involvement in this year’s FA Cup is over after Eastleigh lost their third round replay at Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers.
Chris Todd’s National League high-flyers made little of the 53 places separating the sides in the league system, taking an early lead and then levelling the tie at 2-2 with goals from Joe Partington and Kaid Mohamed.
But Neil Lennon’s Trotters, bottom of the second tier, booked a home tie with Leeds United in the fourth round with goals from Gary Madine, Dean Moxey and Darren Pratley earning only a second win in 23 games in front of 8,287 at the Macron Stadium.
Much had been made in the build-up of the game being overlooked by the BBC and BT Sport for live coverage, and the TV companies missed a cracker.
Eastleigh were in front on 11 minutes when Andy Drury played Partington in on the right, and the full-back cut inside Dean Moxey to fire past Paul Rachubka into the far corner of the net.
The hosts equalised in the 39th minute when Madine controlled Josh Vela’s cross on his chest and struck low past Ross Flitney from 12 yards.
They were in front four minutes later when Todd’s former Exeter City team-mate Moxey struck a 20-yard shot past Flitney, seconds after the Spitfires keeper had tipped a Wellington Silva free-kick onto the bar.
Eastleigh wouldn’t lie down, however, and they levelled the tie once more in added time at the end of the first half, when Mohamed played a one-two with Jai Reason and slotted coolly past the onrushing Rachubka.
It was advantage Bolton again just before the hour, Pratley – whose late equaliser at the Silverlake Stadium had set up this replay – striding through the heart of the visitors’ defence and finishing low into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.
The Championship side could have extended their lead when Shola Ameobi fired wide late on, but Eastleigh weren’t disgraced with their 686 travelling fans – 233 more than watched last Saturday’s home FA Trophy defeat to Gateshead – in strong voice throughout.
Jai Reason saw an effort blocked by Moxey after Drury and sub Jack Midson combined down the right to tee him up, and another sub, Ross Lafayette, almost connected with Dan Harding’s deep free-kick in injury-time.
Ultimately though, they fell just short and the Cup has stopped cheering for this season, although the Hampshire side have made club history by reaching the third round for the first time.
They have also met Football League opposition in competitive action for the first time, with Crewe Alexandra beaten in round one and one of English fotball’s most famous names taken all the way over 180 minutes here.
They now turn their attentions to the fight for a place among the top 92, with Saturday’s trip to Boreham Wood the start of their attempt to go two better than the losing play-off semi-final they managed last term.
