EASTLEIGH’S FA Cup second round clash at Stourbridge has been bafflingly overlooked for live TV coverage.

The BBC’s Saturday lunchtime programme Football Focus will be broadcast live from Stourbridge’s Amblecote home ahead of the game on December 5 and there will be extended highlights on Match of the Day.

But all three live games, which guarantee a bumper broadcast fee of £72,000 per club, will shine the spotlight on clubs in the northern half of the country.

For the second time in succession Salford City, the Northern Premier League club owned by Manchester United’s Class of ’92, will open up the Cup weekend against League Two Hartlepool United on Friday, December 4 (7.55pm) – that tie to be shown live on BBC2.

BT Sport will then have cameras at the ready for the all-League One clash between Rochdale and Bury on Sunday December 6 (BT Sport 2, midday) and Grimsby Town v Shrewbury Town on Monday, December 7 (BT Sport 2, 7.45pm).

Eastleigh’s trip to Northern Premier giant-killers Stourbridge has FA Cup stardust sprinkled all over it - not least because it is currently the only tie guaranteeing a non-League side makes it through to the third round.

But that appears to have been lost on the broadcasters.

“We’re a little bit disappointed,” admitted Eastleigh boss Chris Todd.

“Being an all-non-League fixture, we thought we stood a chance of getting on TV.

“I'd imagine Stourbridge would be even more disappointed because they could probably do with the money more than us.

“But they have their reasons for picking the games they have and we just have to get on with it and get ourselves into the next round.

“I believe we’re an attractive side to put on TV and hopefully we’ll get our chance sooner rather than later.”

Having kept their superb away form going with a 2-1 National League win at Dover on Tuesday, fourth-placed Eastleigh must hit the road for a third time in eight days to 15th-placed Guiseley on Saturday.

Joe Partington returns from suspension, but Ben Strevens – penalty hero of the FA Cup win at Crewe – sits out one game for five bookings.

Wideman Matty Fanimo has fully recovered from a sore knee, but ex-Saints left-back Dan Harding remains sidelined with calf trouble.

Reflecting on another scintillating week for the Spitfires, Todd said: “The lads showed true grit and determination at Dover. There’s a hunger in the squad that's coming out in abundance.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard and I know we will because they’re a great group of lads.

"There’s a real bond in the squad. I believe in my players, I really do.”