Of the 64 teams in the FA Cup third round, only one was from non-league and that team, Eastleigh, took on the Championship's bottom side Bolton Wanderers at the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
There were concerns that the match would not go ahead due to boggy conditions, but it was eventually given the go-ahead and Eastleigh earned a replay with a 1-1 draw.
Read how it all unfolded in Hampshire with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon folks! Here we'll be focussing on the only non-league team left in the FA Cup at the third-round stage. Eastleigh are at home and take on Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers.
The good news is that the game is on. The surface at the Silverlake Stadium has not coped well with the rain in recent weeks and it was only at about 1.30pm that the game was given the go-ahead.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
If there is much more rain during the match then we might not make it through 90 minutes, but hopefully we'll be OK! Anyway, here are the two teams...
BOLTON XI: Amos, Holding, Wheater, Dervite, Moxey, Vela, Danns, Pratley, Feeney, Wellington, Madine
Subs: Rachubka, Spearing, Trotter, Casado, Dobbie, Ameobi, Woolery
Subs: Rachubka, Spearing, Trotter, Casado, Dobbie, Ameobi, Woolery
EASTLEIGH XI: Partington; Evans, Reid, Harding; Payne, Reason, Strevens, Drury; Constable, Odubade
Subs: Noice, Turley, Lafayette, Midson, Cook, Mohamed
Subs: Noice, Turley, Lafayette, Midson, Cook, Mohamed
Already this FA Cup third-round weekend we've had two draws between Premier League and lower-league sides (Exeter 2-2 Liverpool, Wycombe 1-1 Aston Villa) and Eastleigh, fourth in the National League, might fancy their chances against a Bolton side enduring an awful season on and off the field.
It is a historic day for the hosts, who have never reached this stage of the competition before. Bolton, meanwhile, are four-time winners (1923, 1926, 1929, 1958) and their best run in recent years was to the 2011 semi-finals.
STAT: Bolton are unbeaten in 19 FA Cup games against non-league opposition (W16 D3), since a 2-0 defeat against Chesterfield in January 1911.
KICKOFF! We're underway at the Silverlake Stadium. Eastleigh in blue and white, Bolton all in black.
CHANCE! Great start from the non-league side as Odubade holds off Moxey down the right before sending in a dangerous cross that Amos unconvincingly pushes away. Constable reaches the loose ball but he's then tackled just as he was about to shoot.
Any Ipswich fans out there like me? There's two familiar names in the Eastleigh lineup in former left-back Dan Harding and midfielder Andy Drury.
First corner of the game for Eastleigh, but Reason's delivery is headed up and away by the Bolton backline.
It's been a good start by the home side as the rain teems down in Hampshire. If it carries on like this, I'm really not sure we'll finish today 😟
CLOSE! Bolton have done absolutely nothing so far and it's all Eastleigh. Left-winger Reason beats one man out wide before sending over a low cross that travels dangerously across the six-yard box.
CHANCE! Eastleigh should be in front. Again it's Reason who provides the killer pass to find Odubade. The striker has to shoot early as he's closed down quickly but there's no excuse to fire over the top like that.
Arsenal's on-loan Brazilian youngster produces Bolton's best moment of the match - and he didn't even mean it! His floated cross is way too long and almost dips in the far corner.
UPDATE: Defending champions Arsenal are LOSING at home to Sunderland. Man City have just taken the lead at Norwich through Sergio Aguero as well.
FA chairman Greg Dyke is in attendance at the Silverlake today and he will have been impressed with the non-league team's performance so far. Can they get a goal which their early play deserves?
Another Reason corner and another strong header out by the Trotters. If you didn't know about either of these teams and were asked which one was non-league and three divisions below the other, you would say Bolton.
STATS: Eastleigh having 55% possession and getting off three shots to Bolton's none. Great start from the non-league side.
Better the last few minutes from Bolton, but it's so hard to play any kind of decent football on this boggy surface.
BOOKING! Bolton youngster Rob Holding is the first man in the book for wiping out Harding with a late challenge as Eastleigh tried to break.
Worrying signs here for Eastleigh as Odubade stays down after seemingly pulling his hamstring.
CLOSE! Pratley surges into the Eastleigh area and stabs a shot goalwards that trickles a yard or so wide.
EASTLEIGH SUB: Odubade can't continue and he's replaced by Kaid Mohamed, who is making his Eastleigh debut.
SHOT! Mohamed straight into the action as he flicks the ball into Reason's path. The winger's shot takes a slight deflection and Amos has to scramble to his left to make the save.
SAVE! Best moment of the match as Silva somehow keeps his balance and gets away from two Eastleigh defenders before looking for the corner with a low curler that Flitney tips away brilliantly.
SAVE! Another fantastic Flitney stop as he dives to his left to palm out Moxey's piledriver. Bolton finally enjoying some good moments as half time approaches.
Bolton will be buoyed by those two openings and Eastleigh aren't threatening as much as they were in the early stages.
Three minutes of added time because of that earlier Odubade injury.
HALF-TIME: EASTLEIGH 0-0 BOLTON
No goals in boggy conditions at the Silverlake Stadium then. Bolton started awfully, but came into it as half time approached. Eastleigh goalkeeper Flitney made two great saves and the non-league side have a great chance of continuing their best-ever run in the competition. We'll be back soon for the second half.
Doesn't seem to be any changes at half time from either manager, but remember Eastleigh were forced into a first-half change when Odubade was replaced by Mohamed.
KICKOFF! The hosts get us back underway. The rain has eased off a little and we should hopefully be able to finish this match today.
Unlike in the first half, Bolton do seem to be awake at the start of the second. Silva continues to be their brightest spark as Eastleigh just start to sit back a little.
GOAL! EASTLEIGH 1-0 BOLTON (DORIAN DERVITE, OG)
The non-league side take the lead and it's a horror show from Bolton defender Dervite, who tried to cut out Reason's cross but only managed to beat Amos at the near post as he stuck his leg out.
Now then. Can Bolton come back? They won't particularly want a replay or maybe even to go through to the next round due to their Championship plight. Is there some fight in this team?
SAVE! Flitney, who made two good stops in the first half, has just made a cracking save to deny Pratley a Bolton equaliser. The ball looked destined for the top corner until Flitney's fingertips pushed it wide.
Bolton well on top now as Wellington gets into the box and has a shot blocked. Madine tries to pounce on the loose ball, but he's flagged offside.
BOOKING! Easy decision this for referee Ian Williamson as Danns flies in on Strevens and misses the ball.
CHANCE! Almost a second for Eastleigh! It's last-gasp defending from Bolton as Wheater and then Moxey slide in to make tackles before Constable's shot was pushed out by Amos.
Some news for Bolton fans away from the field as Sky Sports News reporter Amy Lewis tweets: "Bolton have accepted a bid from Bristol City for Zach Clough." A blow for the club to have to sell one of their bright young talents.
SHOT! Moxey takes aim with a Bolton free kick from 25 yards and tests Flitney with a fierce hit.
OFF THE LINE! Goodness me! How has that not gone in? Reason was put through on goal and managed to get his shot under Amos before Wheater scrambled back with the ball seemingly about to trickle over the line.
PHOTO: David Wheater heads goalwards against @eastleighfc. Approaching the final ten minutes. #EFCvBOL pic.twitter.com/rKNegoW0Ud — Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) January 9, 2016
INDIRECT FREE KICK KLAXON! Williamson gives Eastleigh a free kick in the area! So harsh as there was no way the Bolton man was trying to play it back there.
Reason can't shoot, so he tries to fire it across goal as hard as he can, but it doesn't hit anyone and goes out of play on the far side.
As it stands, Dervite's own goal is sending Eastleigh through
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
DISALLOWED! Bolton have the ball in the net as Silva's free kick isn't dealt with and Ameobi taps home, but the offside flag was up.
GOAL! EASTLEIGH 1-1 BOLTON (DARREN PRATLEY)
Heartbreak for Eastleigh as Pratley scrambles home an equaliser from a corner! There's a melee in the goal afterwards as Pratley tries to get the ball back and bookings are dished out by the referee. Game on!
FOUR minutes of added time. Can Eastleigh hang on for a replay at least?
One last corner for Bolton...
FULL-TIME: EASTLEIGH 1-1 BOLTON
There will be a non-league side in Monday's FA Cup fourth-round draw as National League side Eastleigh hold Bolton to a 1-1 draw in awful conditions. The Spitfires were minutes from going straight through, but they will have to go through a replay at the Macron Stadium if they are to take their place in the last 32.
As for Bolton, it's another dire day for Neil Lennon's side and a replay is hardly what they need given their plight at the bottom of the Championship. Thanks a lot for joining SM this afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
