BOSS Ronnie Moore wants Eastleigh's heroes to lock their FA Cup excitement away and channel all their energy into Saturday's huge Vanarama National League test at Gateshead.

The Spitfires pulled off the greatest result in their history on Tuesday, humbling League One Swindon Town 3-1 at the County Ground, writes Wendy Gee.

But promotion remains their number goal and Moore will do everything in his power to focus minds on league matters during tomorrow's seven-hour slog to the north-east.

“We’re going to put the FA Cup in a cupboard and bring it out again on December 4 (2pm, when Halifax Town visit the Silverlake),” said the boss.

“We’re not going to win the FA Cup, but we want to get out of this league."

Gateshead go into the 8th v 9th clash unbeaten in seven. And much as their manager Neil Aspin says they are “probably playing Eastleigh at the wrong time” after the Swindon result, Moore could claim likewise with the turbo-charged Tynesiders having slammed five past Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend.

“You don’t go to Dagenham and win 5-0 if you’re not a decent side,” said Moore.

“But the pitch is always good up there, which will suit us.

“Swindon’s pitch was beautiful and that helped. You could see the chalk ‘n’ cheese from playing on ours.

“(Andy) Drury was fantastic. Give him a good pitch and he’s going to create. He sees a pass."

Eastleigh’s sodden Silverlake surface cut up badly during the 1-1 draw with York last weekend and Moore said: “Something will have to be done during the summer. There’s not much the groundsman can do now, so we have to change the way we play.

“It’s a shame because we’ve got good ball players. Luke Coulson can run with the ball on a good pitch and so can Stearny (new signing Ross Stearn) who's used to playing on the artificial stuff at Sutton.

“But even on our pitch we created chances against York. The difference at Swindon was we took them. We were top-drawer.”

Fit-against Scott Wilson will keep his place up front after impressing on his first start. The former Weston-super-Mare hotshot didn’t score against Swindon, but was involved in all three goals.

“We went for pace with Wilson and (Mikael) Mandron and it worked well,” said Moore.

“One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but Wilson will play and we'll see what happens. He'll only come out of the side if he's not doing it."

Given the quality of Eastleigh’s midweek performance, wideman Stearn may have to bide his time for a starting debut.

“It'd be harsh to say one of you won’t play at Gateshead after the best result in the club’s history,” said Moore.

“Stearny wants to play but he might have to sit this one out.”

James Constable, Jamie Cureton and Derby loan winger Alefe Santos are back available, but skipper Ryan Cresswell could be out for a while with a knee problem.

Eastleigh will stop off at Doncaster Rovers' training ground on the way up tomorrow and then go swimming to loosen their limbs after the 320-mile journey.