Eastleigh vs Bolton match report: Darren Pratley's late goal salvages replay against non-league side

Eastleigh 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

Eastleigh's James Constable shoots at goal as Bolton's David Wheater tries to block (Getty Images)

They came, they mopped, they forked and they sanded. For their labours this week Eastleigh’s volunteer army were rewarded with 90 minutes of pulsating FA Cup action, including 36 minutes when the epic giantkilling they dreamed of was tangible.

Darren Pratley’s 87th-minute equaliser punctured that balloon, but the tiny Hampshire club had a day to remember nevertheless. On a sodden pitch, which came to resemble a sandy bog, the last surviving non-League club did themselves proud, terrified Championship Bolton Wanderers, and embarrassed the TV barons who rejected this tie for live coverage. If they have any sense the broadcasters will be fighting over the replay next week, for this tie is far from over.

“My players are disappointed but I am proud,” Chris Todd, Eastleigh’s positive young manager, said. “We are still in the hat [for tomorrow’s fourth-round draw] and we will go there believing we can win.”

A very relieved Neil Lennon, who feared a grim season was going to become even worse, praised his players’ character, especially in the light of the club’s financial crisis. This led to him being told neither Zach Clough nor Mark Davies were available for selection yesterday as each are being sold, with Josh Vela likely to follow.

Lennon, who spent more than a decade with Celtic, was unimpressed at the conditions, noting: “The pitch was the worst I have seen for a professional game, and I’ve seen some terrible ones in Scotland.”

It was bad. Eastleigh’s last home match, against Bromley a week ago, was postponed because of waterlogging and to supplement volunteers’ work the club had even borrowed drying equipment from Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Even then it took the liberal distribution of sand, and turf-drying with leaf-blowers, before referee Iain Williamson allowed the match to start. Eastleigh, having erected temporary marquees, scaffolding towers for broadcast and the other sundry needs required of non-League clubs staging a big FA Cup tie for the first time, were relieved. This was their debut at this most romantic of cup rounds, having still been in the Wessex League as recently as 2003.

Heavy investment has propelled the Spitfires to the brink of the Football League. Since Todd took over three months ago they have won 13 and lost one of 16 matches, taking them into the National League’s play-off positions. Bolton are moving rapidly in the other direction in football’s snakes-and-ladders. FA Cup semi-finalists and Premier League competitors as recently as 2011, they are now bottom of the Championship and £172.9m in debt.

Facing an in-form side packed with ex-League experience, Bolton needed to show character. Fortunately for Lennon his side do not lack experience and include players such as Dean Moxey and Liam Feeney who have worked their way up from non-League. David Wheater stood solid at the back as Eastleigh dominated the early stages, then, as the worse did not happen, the likes of Pratley and Feeney led a counter-offensive. Eventually even £3.5m Brazilian Wellington Silva, on loan from Arsenal, accepted the foreign conditions.

Yemi Odubade was Eastleigh’s early spearhead, but he pulled up lame and had to be withdrawn. Bolton settled and Ross Flitney had to save from Gary Madine, Wellington and Moxey. But Eastleigh remained a threat with Ben Amos scrambling across goal to deny Jai Reason.

Five minutes after the interval the keeper was beaten, by his own player. Stretching to block Reason’s cross, Dorian Dervite turned the ball inside his near post. The home fans among a club record 5,025 jammed into the Silverlake Stadium erupted, but Bolton’s large and voluble travelling support replied with: “you’re nothing special, we lose every week”.

It would have been easy for Bolton to crumble, but to their credit they rallied. However, the better chances fell Eastleigh’s way and Josh Payne and Andy Drury should have scored. The latter’s shot stuck in the mud. This was to the referee’s relief as a lone pitch invader with grey beard and glasses had joined the attack unnoticed and a goal would have been controversial.

With the pitch deteriorating rapidly Eastleigh tired in the mire and Bolton pressed again. Finally Feeney’s corner was flicked on and Pratley scrambled it in. So, no shock, at least not yet, but what team will Lennon be able to field come the replay next week?

Eastleigh: (4-5-1) Flitney; Partingdon, Evans, Reid, Harding; Odubade (Mohamed, 35), Drury, Strevens, Payne, Reason; Constable.

Bolton Wanderers: (4-2-3-1) Amos; Holding, Wheater, Dervite, Moxey; Vela (Ameobi, 71), Danns (Trotter, 85); Feeney, Silva, Pratley; Madine (Woolery, 85).

Referee: Iain Williamson

Man of the match: Wheater (Bolton Wanderers)

Match rating: 8/10