Cup Dream Over for Eastleigh

Forest Green Rovers 4 Eastleigh 1

Match Report by Ray Murphy

Eastleigh produced an excellent display in this F A Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay, the final score showing no reflection of the game that had taken place. With Andy Harris and Andy Forbes both fit enough to return to the starting line up this somewhat compensated for the loss of David Hughes from the side with a back injury, Robbie Marshall being the other alteration from the match some seventy-two hours earlier.

Eastleigh had by far the better start. Matt Hann had already seen a shot deflected away for a corner before Eastleigh went ahead on the third minute. Chris Piper’s corner was only pushed to the edge of the box by home goalkeeper Ryan Robinson where Paul Sales produced an acrobatic over head kick that was again only parried by Robinson and Forbes was on hand to slot home the opening goal.

Both sides produced some neat flowing football to make it an entertaining opening but neither goalkeeper were forced into having themselves extended. Eastleigh were by far containing their opponents from a higher division. Jamie Brown saw a shot saved by Robinson and Sales also was the victim of another excellent Robinson stop to prevent Eastleigh from going further ahead.

On thirty-five minutes the home side gained an equaliser. A set piece free kick from the left flank by Alex Lawless saw John Hardiker rise at the front post to guide home a headed equaliser.

Six minutes later and the home side had a chance to go ahead. Their leading scorer Stuart Fleetwood got the better of the last defender Luke Byles then sent a low shot past James Pullen but also just past the post.

Worse was to follow from then on for Eastleigh. On fifty eight minutes having failed to clear an initial free kick, the ball was played down the Rovers right wing where the ball was deflected up and over a static Eastleigh defence allowing Fleetwood to nip in and head the ball past Pullen.

Four minutes later and Eastleigh were reduced to ten men when Sales committed a foul that produced his second yellow card of the evening. On sixty-six minutes Fleetwood turned his defender Harris then rolled a shot wide of the target but a minute later further disaster struck for Eastleigh.

The Eastleigh defence was in disarray as Lawless broke through and having rolled the ball past Pullen, Harris appeared to fall over the ball on the goal line, referee Mr Brendan Malone stating that Harris handled the ball - awarded the penalty and subsequently sent Harris off. Eastleigh were down to nine men and Fleetwood sent Pullen the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The game as a contest was over though Eastleigh still played their part in the match. Their defence was opened again though in the third minute of stoppage time to finish this cruel evening. Substitute Daniel Carey-Bertram finishing off a good move for the home side to give them a somewhat flattering three-goal advantage.

Match Report and Ian Baird Here

- Nine-man Eastleigh's FA Cup dream is over