Eastleigh’s FA Cup dreams were crushed as Vanarama Conference rivals Southport came from behind to win 2-1 after Richard Hill’s side were forced to play the majority of the second half with ten men at the Merseyrail Community Stadium this afternoon in their second round tie.

Daily Echo:

James Constable put the Spitfires ahead on 41 minutes before Richard Brodie levelled for the Sandgrounders on the stroke of half time.

Dean Beckwith was then dismissed at the start of the second half for a last ditch tackle.

That was the turning point and Southport got the winner with just under 20 minutes left through Micah Evans.

Despite pushing hard for an equaliser, the Spitfires’ dream of a third round tie against Premier League opposition came to an end on Merseyside.

The first half was a fairly even affair. Eastleigh bolted out the gates and within the opening minutes Jamie Collins and Constable had efforts go off target.

As the excitement of the historic occasion settled, the Spitfires were on the back foot, with the Sandgrounders probing for weaknesses down their flanks.

Although the levelling goal was a cross from the right flank, most of the attacking action by Southport was done down their left, hooking balls over Eastleigh right back Will Evans.

For the most part Evans was in control, dealing with wingers Evans and Mitchell Austin who alternated flanks. On one occasion he called on the services of centre half Dean Beckwith, who mopped up an attack.

Visiting keeper Ross Flitney was called into action for the first time on eight minutes, dealing well with a cross. Moments later he was lucky not be penalised for bundling down Evans in the box, as the winger rushed into box to chase a loose ball. The resulting penalty shout was turned down.

At the other end Southport keeper David Raya Martin had no trouble in dealing with a weak near post shot by Jai Reason.

The stopper seemed eager to run from his goal, and a warning of things to come was Constable run that saw the stopper sprint from his line to attempt clear away.

He dealt well with a dangerous Michael Green corner and a couple of other stops. But on 41 minutes, as Eastleigh broke, Raya Martin had been too ambitious.

The custodian pursued, much to the surprise of the home faithful, towards a Craig Stanley ball well outside his box, which was knocked over the defence from just inside the Spitfires area.

It would have been fine had Craig McAllister not been in hot pursuit. The assistant player-manager was there first, nicking the ball down the right flank.

The 34-year-old side footed towards goal. Constable, aware of what of his strike partner was attempting, sprinted towards the line and tapped home, much to the delight of the drenched Spitfires’ fans, who were joined by owner Stewart Donald on the terraces.

Southport, who had worked the ball well, weren’t having any of it and on the stroke of half time they levelled. This time a cross from David Fitzpatrick found Brodie. His glanced header nestled in the net.

Daily Echo:

Within a minute of the restart Beckwith had been shown a red card for a last ditch tackle on Austin, which would have put him clear through one-on-one. Collins dropped into centre back.

It looked for a while that it could boil over as challenges flew in from both sides.

As expect the ten men were put under pressure by Port. Approaching the hour mark Richard Hill, the Eastleigh manager, brought Stuart Fleetwood for McAllister, leaving Constable up top on his own.

Despite having that man advantage Soutport hadn’t created a clear-cut chance as the hour mark came. In fact, Flitney, at that point, was far less to deal with than he did the first half.

The ex-Gillingham stopper was on hand to punch away, as Port turned the screw. Paul Rutherford, the home attacker, was busy making direct runs into the Eastleigh box.

Hill freshened up his defence’s fatiguing legs, with Dan Spence being introduced for Collins. Evans slotted in at centre back.

Eastleigh were reduced to attacking on the break and from one break away, where Reason tried to thread into Ben Strevens in the box, Southport broke away and fired in the winner.

The goal-scorer, Brodie, wriggled space deep in the box after visiting Evans had blocked Paul Rutherford’s shot. His shot came off the post and into the path of Port’s Evans.

With a lot still to do he turned just inside the box and his first time shot found the top right of the net.

The same Evans then missed an easier chance as Flitney spilled the ball from a back pass, firing over from a matter of yards.

Eastleigh’s bid for at least a replay was fading fast, Constable flashed a header just wide with 13 minutes left but Beckwith’s sending off had cost them dear.

With ten minutes left Strevens headed against the upright. And with one last push Yemi Odubade was brought on.

They threw everything forward but it wasn't good enough.

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Michael Green, Jamie Collins (Dan Spence 68), Dean Beckwith, Craig Stanley, James Constable, Jai Reason, Craig McAllister (Stuart Fleetwood 57), Ben Strevens (Yemi Odubade 80), Will Evans, Paul Reid. Subs not used: Chris Todd, Jack Midson, Josh Helm.