Eastleigh lose grip on county cup (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Eastleigh lose grip on county cup

12:20pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in Sport

HOLDERS Eastleigh are out of the Hampshire FA Senior Cup.

The Spitfires sent a combination of youth and experience into battle against AFC Bournemouth’s development squad at New Milton Town last night.

They twice took the lead through Mark Hughes and Corey King against the young Dean Court professionals, but eventually bowed out in the quarter-final on penalties.

The turning point came late in normal time when, with Cherries’ Brandon Goodship having pulled it back to 1-1, Eastleigh had a King penalty brilliantly saved by Bournemouth ’keeper Benji Buchel.

They were still getting over that disappointment when, just a minute later, Charlie Basilone – one of several youngsters in the Eastleigh side - was sent off on his debut for a foul on Anthony Harris.

The Spitfires’ ten men rallied to lead 2-1 midway through extra time, but they were pegged back right at the death. Buchel went up for a corner and Jamal Bajandouh levelled with the last kick of the game.

Liechtenstein international Buchel was the hero of the night, making two more key saves in the penalty shootout as Bournemouth triumphed 4-3.