Eastleigh’s FA Cup run came to an end following three Walsall goals, despite a valiant effort from the Spitfires with the scoreline not reflective of the match performance from the hosts.
An early goal from Evan Weir gave Walsall the first-half lead despite a mighty effort from the Spitfires as they came close to an equaliser on a number of occasions. The Saddlers then scored two further goals to extend their lead, courtesy of both Daniel Kanu and Jamille Matt.
Following an impressive victory over Morecambe last weekend, Scott Bartlett made two changes to his side with Jake Vokins and Aaron Pierre coming into the fray replacing Luke Skinner and Jake Taylor, with the latter involved at all today.
You could tell it was a special occasion for the Spitfires from minute one as their FA Cup round one fixture got underway, with the Eastleigh faithful in fine voice from start to finish. It was the visitors who had the first chance coming in the form of a free-kick. The set-piece was whipped in by Evan Weir, however the chance came to nought as Eastleigh cleared.
Shortly following was a moment of worry for the hosts, as skipper Jordan Cousins went down in his own penalty box and had to be replaced by Kieron Evans.
In a manic opening five minutes, Walsall took the lead from the resulting corner, which was stabbed in at the back post by Weir. Evans looked lively shortly after coming on, winning a foul and giving the visitors something to think about in the opening 15 minutes.
The hosts almost found themselves back into the game on the thirteen minute mark after a defensive error from Walsall, which resulted in a good save from the goalkeeper to deny a strong Harvey Saunders low-driven effort.
Eastleigh continued to keep knocking on the door, finding two further chances in quick succession – first Lloyd Humphries’ headed effort found the crossbar, before another effort from Temi Eweka just seconds later was whiskers away from a leveller which came after a delightful delivery from Humphries.
The 17th minute uncovered the inaugural booking of the game, after a clumsy shove from Aaron Pressley earned his name in the book. The chances kept flowing the way of the home side, as a flick on from Ciaran McGuckin fell kindly into the path of Saunders, whose delicate lobbed effort over Myles Roberts dropped narrowly wide once more.
As the half-way mark approached in the first period, the Spitfires piled on the pressure, with the physical game beginning to show before substitute Evans’ low cross went through everyone, almost finding the bottom left corner
The atmosphere on display by the home fans was much like it was after the first whistle, as they hoped to spur Eastleigh on to find an equaliser.
The second period almost mirrored the first in the opening minutes, as a ball played by Weir found Kanu who rifled it past Townsend into the top left corner, leaving the Spitfires with a steep hill to climb.
Kanu almost doubled his tally just before the hour mark; a delicate poke between the legs of an Eastleigh defender resulted in a finesse effort that went just wide of the right post.
Eastleigh continued to find chances in an attempt to half the deficit. A long ball played excellently by Pierre found Saunders who calmly headed the ball down for McGuckin, whose effort was unfortunately blocked.
As the final 20 minutes approached, Eastleigh substitutes worked wonderfully in tandem, with Evans slide challenge winning the ball back before linking up well with fellow oncomer Skinner, with the former letting one fire from range into a white shirt.
Eastleigh continued to fight to bring themselves back into the tie, with Eweka winning a free-kick which the Spitfires came close to capitalising on, winning a corner – a set-piece which was initially cleared before Roberts was tested once more, tipping the ball wide for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Walsall all but put an end to the cup tie; the ball was quickly cleared towards Richard Brindley, who completely misjudged the bounce, leaving the Saddlers’ substitute Matt running freely on goal, calmly slotting the ball past Townsend into the bottom left corner.
Despite the Spitfires fighting until the end, luck just didn’t fall their way in the final third, as Walsall entered their name into the hat for the second round.
The Spitfires return to league action on Wednesday evening when they travel to Sutton United.
Eastleigh: Townsend (GK), Brindley, Vokins (Skinner 62’), Humphries, Eweka, McGuckin, Saunders (Waruih 88’), Pierre (Fernandez 88’), Lundstram, Cousins (C) (Evans 6’), Harris
Unused Substitutes: McNamara, Davis, Stone, Killick, Jones
Yellow Cards: Pierre (45’)
Walsall: Roberts (GK), Barrett, Flint (C), Lakin, Comley (Finnigan 83’), Kanu (Adomah 83’), Clarke (Jellis 71’), Harper, Pressley (Matt 71’), Weir, Browne
Unused Substitutes: Hornby, Farquharson, Cox, Okeke, Richards,
Goals: Weir (6’), Kanu (50’), Matt (79’)
Yellow Cards: Pressley (17’)
Attendance: 2389 (501)
