2 years ago
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McCallum is the National League's top scorer with 16 goals this seasonPaul McCallum's last-gasp winner sent Eastleigh into the FA Cup third round and dumped League One strugglers Reading out of the competition.
McCallum put the Spitfires in front, sliding home Scott Quigley's low cross.
It looked as though Femi Azeez had salvaged a replay for the Royals with his left-foot strike to equalise with four minutes left.
But McCallum, the National League's top scorer, stabbed in his second to settle the tie in added time.
Reading's fans staged a protest against owner Dai Yongge in the 16th minute, holding up the game with a fusillade of tennis balls and fake money on to the Silverlake Stadium pitch.
Prior to the demonstration, the contest had been largely an even one - but Eastleigh were quicker to regain momentum and Enzio Boldewijn's ball down the right released Quigley to set up McCallum for the opener.
The Spitfires striker had a header ruled out for shoving Amadou Mbengue in the build-up and Quigley could also have increased his side's lead, galloping on to a through ball from Boldewijn but Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira denied him with a one-on-one save.
At the other end, Reading failed to test Joe McDonnell, although Charlie Savage and Ben Elliott might have done better with attempts from distance that flew off target.
Pereira thwarted McCallum from close range at the start of the second half, but the visitors - who had made eight changes to their starting line-up, brought on a raft of experienced players and began to dominate.
The influential Lewis Wing forced McDonnell into action with a volley, while Sam Smith's header flew over from close range.
However, the Royals finally achieved parity when Eastleigh could only half-clear Wing's ball to the edge of the box and Azeez drilled it into the far corner.
Yet McCallum snatched victory in the fourth of six added minutes, finishing off at the second attempt when a corner fell to him inside the box to set up a third-round trip to Newport or Barnet for Richard Hill's side.
Line-ups
Eastleigh
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McDonnell
- 14Hodson
- 6Francillette
- 12LangstonBooked at 9mins
- 18Clements
- 11Boldewijn
- 8TaylorBooked at 23minsSubstituted forNwabuokeiat 58'minutes
- 4AtanganaSubstituted forHarrisat 74'minutes
- 17MaguireBooked at 87mins
- 9McCallumBooked at 35mins
- 20Quigley
Substitutes
- 3Clampin
- 10Barlow
- 13Scott
- 16Nwabuokei
- 19Panter
- 21Rutherford
- 22Tshaka
- 23Harris
- 27Yang
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Castro Pereira
- 27MbengueBooked at 81minsSubstituted forRusheshaat 83'minutes
- 3Holmes
- 2MolaBooked at 54mins
- 47CarsonSubstituted forDeanat 45'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 36Craig
- 8SavageBooked at 29minsSubstituted forWingat 58'minutes
- 7Knibbs
- 11Azeez
- 15EhibhatiomhanSubstituted forSmithat 58'minutes
- 4ElliottSubstituted forMukairuat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Button
- 6Dean
- 10Smith
- 12Mukairu
- 23Hutchinson
- 29Wing
- 32Abbey
- 40Rushesha
- 42Vickers
Referee:Lewis Smith
Attendance:5,002
Live Text
Match ends, Eastleigh 2, Reading 1.
Second Half ends, Eastleigh 2, Reading 1.
Attempt missed. Joel Pereira (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Ludwig Francillette.
Goal! Eastleigh 2, Reading 1. Paul McCallum (Eastleigh) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Paul McCallum (Eastleigh) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Chris Maguire with a cross.
Corner, Eastleigh. Conceded by Michael Craig.
Attempt blocked. Scott Quigley (Eastleigh) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Solomon Nwabuokei.
Lewis Wing (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Maguire (Eastleigh).
Offside, Eastleigh. Lee Hodson is caught offside.
Harlee Dean (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Harlee Dean (Reading).
Chris Maguire (Eastleigh) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Bailey Clements.
Chris Maguire (Eastleigh) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lewis Wing (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Chris Maguire (Eastleigh).
Goal! Eastleigh 1, Reading 1. Femi Azeez (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lewis Wing.
Attempt blocked. Femi Azeez (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tivonge Rushesha.
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