RELIEF FOR SPITFIRES AS GLADIATORS PUSH THEM

EASTLEIGH boss Ben Strevens paid tribute to Matlock Town after his depleted squad survived a few scares to progress to the third round.

The Gladiators arrived at The Silverlake Stadium sixth from bottom of the Northern Premier League’s top flight, 57 places below their hosts in the pyramid and with only one league win since early October

But they gave a good account of themselves on a cold, blustery afternoon and could easily have forced a replay on the balance of chances.

“It was really tough for us out there,” said Strevens. “It was windy and we probably make it harder for ourselves at times, but credit to Matlock, they played some good stuff.

“We probably had 75 per cent of the possession in the first half but they had the two best chances.”

They certainly did, with Ross Flitney making two important saves either side of the half-hour mark.

First, he blocked a Tomas Poole shot with Matlock midfielder Jordan Sinnott blasting the rebound over the bar.

Then, a few minutes later, Marcus Marshall weaved his way past two defenders on his way into the penalty box before Flitney blocked his shot for a corner.

Matlock were made to pay for those misses when Cav Miley put Eastleigh ahead with virtually the last shot of the first half. Picking the ball up on the left hand side of the penalty area, he fired a low shot past Jon Stewart into the far corner for a rare strike – only his third in his last 94 league and cup appearances.

Eastleigh hit Matlock with a second goal within a minute of the restart – striker Lewis Beale celebrating his first senior start by collecting a long through ball and finishing well.

Matlock were handed a glimmer of hope on 68 minutes when Poole beat Flitney to a loose ball, setting up Marshall for a tap in.

Eastleigh failed to steady the nerves five minutes later when they missed a penalty. Sam Smart was brought down by Bailey Gooda but Scott Rendell’s spot-kick was saved by Stewart.

In addition to Beale, Strevens was forced to hand the right-footed Ben Scorey his first senior start on the left hand side of a back three with defenders Reda Johnson, Andrew Boyce and Michael Green all injured. He has also recently seen loanees Marcus Barnes and Charlie Seaman return to their parent clubs and Rob Atkinson join Oxford United.

Eastleigh, however, are through to the third round of the Trophy for only the third time since they first entered it in 2003-04.

“I’m using the competition to give game time to some of the young lads and they did well today,’ said Strevens. ‘But I do want to go as far in it as we can.”