13 hours Ago
EASTLEIGH boss Kelvin Davis admitted his side "made it hard work" after they beat Southern League Premier South outfit Hanwell Town 2-1. A cool spot kick from experienced Chris Maguire late on helped the Spitfires progress to the FA Trophy fourth round with a rotated side in the capital. The hosts had the lead at the break through Joe Wilson but goals from Scott Quigley and Maguire would see a second-half turnaround.
The match had been due to be played on Saturday but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch amid high winds and rain from Storm Darragh. But with Eastleigh over the line, Davis said: "When you go behind, the other team's always going to show a bit of resilience, get behind the ball and make it difficult. "The pitch, the conditions, everything you expect when you come to this environment but the lads dug deep.
Hanwell scored a wonder goal, a proper cup goal. "It set us back and I think our worst phase of the game was the first five minutes after the second half and after the break. "So you're asking yourself the question, did we say the right things at half-time? But the lads came back into the game and the quality started to show.
" He added: "We made it hard work, it's obviously not the game plan to be one nil down but the reaction from the lads was a couple of strong performances. "Putting Mags in the middle of the park worked tonight and on another night, it maybe won't but the good thing is everyone's involved. "Two goals in two for Quigley and we've missed him.
He's missed a lot of football because of his early injury and then a three-game ban but he looks hungry and fresh." Eastleigh will travel to Northern Premier League side Basford United - who knocked out Halifax on penalties - in the fourth round of the trophy on Saturday, January 4. Up next is a return to National League action with the long trip to AFC Fylde, who are struggling in 19th but won against Ebbsfleet United last time out, on Saturday.
"It won't be easy," insisted Davis. "It'll be a journey but we've got a bit of preparation time and we've got a routine that we like to stick to. We'll go there in a manner which we do for every away game, it's another test for us.
Again, they picked up a win tonight so their tails will be up. "It's a home game for them. They've got another home game to come after us so they'll be going into that feeling quite comfortable.
"It's up to us to go there and perform, show ourselves and come away with a positive result.".
