A dominant display from the Spitfires put them into the hat for the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup thanks to a second half goal from Charlie Carter.

The Spitfires defence stayed firm throughout the game to deny the visitors from having many real chances.

Charlie Carter opened the scoring in the 60th minute to give the Spitfires a well deserved lead that they never looked like losing.

After a slow start from both sides, Oscar Rutherford had the first crack of the whip in the 14th minute after slicing his way through the Dover defence to be 1-on-1 with Billy Terrell but his powerful effort went just over the bar.

Paul McCallum was fouled on the edge of the box in the 18th minute leaving Chris Maguire in a great position to take the free-kick but he bent his shot just wide to the left of the goal.

Scott Quigley got onto the end of a pass that was lofted over the Dover defence in the 23rd minute but his outstretched first touch let him down and when he did get his shot off he was at too tight of an angle to really test Terrell who made a comfortable save.

Maguire cut in towards the middle of the pitch from the left wing in the 32nd minute and aimed a shot towards the bottom left corner from 25-yards out but his strike was parried away by a diving Terrell.

The next chance for the Spitfires fell to Jake Taylor in the 38th minute after the ball bounced into his path just outside the box but his volley flew just too far to the right of the goal.

Maguire came close again for the Spitfires in the 43rd minute, a skillful turn on the edge of the box meant that he lost his defender before he hit the ball goalwards but his shot was deflected and struck the post as the Spitfires edged closer to getting an opener.

A dominant first-half from the Spitfires was concluded when Quigley sent a shot across goal only to see it blaze just right of the far post.

The first chance of the second-half came to McCallum when he connected with Quigley’s cross in the 51st minute, he rose the highest to get his head onto it but his effort went wide of the goal.

The ball ricocheted into the path of Quigley in the 56th minute following a corner but his close range effort was saved well by Terrell.

The Spitfires finally found the back of the net in the 60th minute through Charlie Carter who bagged his first goal of the season with a cool, calm and collected finish into the bottom right corner from close range after being found by Taylor.

The rain began to fall at the Silverlake Stadium but it wasn’t enough to stop the Spitfires onslaught on the Dover defence as Paul McCallum saw a headed effort from close range saved low by a diving Terrell in the 71st minute.

Taylor gave Terrell yet another test in the 75th minute with a volley on the edge of the box that he hammered towards the left side of the goal only to see it saved well by the Dover ‘keeper.

Henry Young was sent off in the 81st minute for a late challenge after trying to earn possession of a loose ball leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb.

McCallum came inches away from doubling the Spitfires’ lead in the 84th minute, he turned away from his marker and cannoned the ball towards goal only to see it strike the post.

Enzio Boldewijn then went on to hit the opposite post with a shot from the right side of the box moments after this, showing yet again that the Spitfires were determined to extend their lead.

Joe McDonnell produced a fantastic, reflex save in the 90th minute to keep the Spitfires ahead after the ball rebounded off a Dover attacker into his path.

The Dover ‘keeper Terrell was sent up for a corner in the dying moments of the game as they were desperate to find a way back into the game.

He managed to get his head onto the end of the set piece but couldn’t find the back of the net as the Spitfires earnt a place in the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup.

Report by Matthew Gibbs

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Francillette, Carter, Taylor (C), McCallum (90+4), Boldewijn, Langston, Mauguire, Panter, Quigley, Rutherford

Subs: Scott (GK), Barlow (90+4), Tshaka, Stock, Yang, Bagan

Dover Athletic: Terrell (GK), Ojemen, Dunne (C) (90+3), Sutherland, Naylor, Mensah, Hatcher (62), Young, Dembele, Oyenuga, Lock (62)

Subs: Powell (62), Anifowose, Nikaj, Allan (62), Holness, Baptiste, Stewart (90+3)

Attendance: 1,401 (101 away)