WILL STRIKES TO GIVE PORT THE EVAN TIE

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Eastleigh 1 Newport County

ALEX CROOK

WILL EVANS fired in his 18th goal of the season for Newport to help secure a mouth-watering fourth-round tie at home to Manchester United and shatter National League Eastleigh’s dreams.

Eastleigh boss Richard Hill had challenged his players to seize the moment to make history and the home side were roared on by a capacity 5,000 crowd.

But the Spitfires got their night off to the worst possible start when Aaron Wildig fired the League Two side in front with just three minutes played.

Evans created the chance with a powerful burst into the penalty area before Wildig calmly rounded onrushing goalkeeper Joe Mcdonnell to slot home.

On 11 minutes Mcdonnell made a smart save with his legs to keep out Scott Bennett’s far post header and deny the Exiles a quick-fire second goal.

Shane Mcloughlin also fired a long-range half volley into the arms of Mcdonnell, who was kept busy in the first half.

Eastleigh’s lively front two, Paul Mccallum and Joe Quigley, did their best to keep the Newport defence on their toes, but Hill’s men did not create a single meaningful chance in the opening 45 minutes.

Wildig should have done better six minutes before half-time when he fired into the side netting after making a darting run to reach Adam Lewis’s cross.

The home side drew level three minutes into the second half as the prolific Mccallum picked out the top corner with a thumping volley from the corner of the 18-yard box. But their joy was cut short when James Clarke headed Newport back in front on the hour from Mcloughlin’s corner. Mccallum (left) wasted a good chance to equalise for a second time when he blazed over at the near post from Ryan Clampin’s inviting cross.

Evans (celebrating, above) made Mccallum pay when he sealed the win 11 minutes from time with a powerful left foot shot into the far corner from a tight angle.