Eastleigh reach the second round of the FA Trophy after beating Bury Town 3-0

The Spitfires’ made the perfect amends for last week’s disappointing defeat to Tonbridge Angels at the Silverlake Stadium last Saturday in the Skrill Conference South, by putting in a dominant performance in the cup tie.

Ben Strevens’ brace and Craig McAllister’s header confirmed Eastleigh’s place in the second round of the competition.

Manager, Richard Hill brought Michael Green, Will Evans and Yemi Odubade back to the starting XI from the Angels match, as Jamie Collins, Craig McAllister and Chris Dillon dropped to the bench.

Early skirmishes belonged to The Spitfires as Stuart Fleetwood and Jai Reason were both denied by a block and a reaction saves respectively.

The gulf in class between the two sides shone through after ten minutes as Green delivered an accurate delivery from a corner for Strevens to head home against the Ryman Premier Division side.

Bury did come back into the match though as Ross Bailey saw a shot fly wide and a melee in the box, in which Eastleigh stopper Ross Flitney dealt well with a shot from Ryan Semple.

But as the home-side started to find their feet the Skrill South high-fliers struck again as Bury stopper Marcus Garnham could only parry Odubade’s shot into the path of Strevens, who was able to tap home with ease from close range.

Flitney was called into action moments later to deal with a fierce shot from Shane Tolley but  Fleetwood almost gifted Eastliegh a 3-0 lead at half-time but was unable to convert.

McAllister, who was brought on at the break, headed home from a Fleetwood free-kick to secure the victory and mark a historic day for The Spitfires.

Green and Fleetwood then went close but were thwarted by Garnham and at the other end Billy Clark had two shots saved by Flitney, Tom Bullard also tested the ‘keeper.

Eastleigh has now reached the national stage of the competition and await news of their opponents in Monday’s draw.