FOR the second successive season Eastleigh have dumped out a League One side in the FA Cup first round.

The Spitfires surpassed last year’s vanquishing of Crewe Alexandra by triumphing 3-1 at Swindon Town to set up a home tie against Halifax Town, who beat ten-man Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 with a 90th-minute winner tonight, in just over a fortnight’s time.

Eastleigh will be favourites to beat Conference North Halifax next month after their dominance at the County Ground was rewarded with arguably the greatest result in the club’s history.

Buoyed by relentless vocal support from the 788 in the 4,321 crowd, they relished the opportunity to show off their skills on a terrific surface.

Eastleigh were 2-0 up at half-time through well-taken goals from former Ipswich Town players Jai Reason and Andy Drury and the result was put beyond any doubt when Mikael Mandron netted a 74th -minute penalty.

The celebrations were in no way dampened by Swindon's late consolation following a Ryan Clarke error.

Eastleigh were asked to change their white shorts just before kick off after referee Christopher Sarginson noticed the clashed with Swindon’s home kit.

It was fitting that the shorts they changed into (borrowed from Swindon’s third kit) were of a golden hue, for this was a golden performance from Ronnie Moore’s side.

Reason gave Eastleigh a 17th-minute lead, clinically dinking the ball over Lawrence Vigouroux after a slick exchange of passes with Scott Wilson, who had a terrific first start since his summer move from Weston Super Mare, in the Swindon penalty area.

The home team had come out to Rockin’ Robins, the County Ground anthem, and they were certainly rocking.

Shortly afterwards Vigouroux diving to his right to keep out another effort from Reason, who was playing on the right flank.

Then Wilson’s wonderful cross across the face of goal won a corner from which Connor Essam’s clever backheel at the near post was deflected behind for another flag kick.

Ryan Clarke was forced into his first significant save of the evening after an incisive pass from Sean Murray put Luke Norris one-on-one with the Eastleigh keeper.

Then Joe Partington conceded a corner after Johnny Goddard’s thrilling run - from which Eastleigh made it 2-0 following a ruthless counter attack.

Luke Coulson and Wilson began a wonderful move that continued as Mandron’s fabulous pass, with the inside of his left foot, took out the backpeddling defenders to put Drury clean through.

The midfielder was the epitome of composure as he delicately chipped the second with his left foot over the exposed Vigouroux. The celebrations were unrestrained in front of the 788 ecstatic Spitfires supporters.

Drury was excellent all night alongside Jason Taylor in central midfield. He was soon needed to produce a vital interception in his own box as Swindon threatened to pull one back before the interval, by which time the home faithful were growing increasingly irate.

Clarke had the last touch of the half when he beat away a powerful cross from left to preserve the Spitfires’ two-goal advantage.

Eastleigh continued to threaten at the beginning of the second half.

Mandron’s near-post volleye deflected behind for a corner and Wilson’s powerful drive was turned behind by Vigouroux before Mandron won another corner after cutting inside along the edge of the box.

Vigouroux was by far the busier of the two keepers and was relieved to clutch Michael Green’s skidding drive at the second attempt.

“We are Eastleigh, super Eastleigh, we are Eastleigh from the Lane,” continued the refrain from the away end, as Spitfires fans, some of whom were dressed in Biggles headwear, delighted in their team’s dominance.

Mandron made it three from the spot after livewire Wilson was brought down by left-back Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill in the Swindon penalty area.

Swindon netted a 79th-minute consolation when Clarke’s poor footwork gifted sub Nathan Delfouneso with a goal that gave the home side some hope.

Eastleigh were relieved when Ormonde-Ottewill curled a powerful drive just beyond the far post.

But Swindon did not threaten thereafter as the Spitfires eased into round two, where no-one will need reminding that they are 90 minutes from joining Saints and the rest of the Premier League sides.

Swindon Town: Vigouroux; Furlong, Rossi-Branco, Jones, Ormonde-Ottewill; Thomas (Delfouneso 57), Kasim (C); Murray, Doughty, Goddard; Norris.
Subs unused : Henry, Barry, Smith, Rodgers, Iandolo, Young.
 
Eastleigh: Ryan Clarke, Joe Partington, Connor Essam, Reda Johnson, Michael Green, Andy Drury, Jason Taylor, Jai Reason, Luke Coulson, Scott Wilson, Mikael Mandron.
Subs unused: Ryan Huddart, David Pipe, Ayo Obileye, Ryan Bird, Tom Bearwish, Owen Fee, Nick Menning.