Eastleigh and neighbours Sholing FC discovered their FA Cup first round opponents in Monday evening's draw, setting up ties for the weekend of November 7. The National League side will host Shrewsbury Town of League Two, while Sholing FC will travel to National League South outfit Salisbury for their historic debut at this stage.
The draw, broadcast live on TNT Sports, confirmed the path for both clubs after they handled the fourth qualifying round on Saturday. Eastleigh's place was secured with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Brentwood Town, having trailed 2-0 at the Silverlake Stadium. That result provided a welcome boost for a side sitting 17th in the National League with 15 points from 13 games, a record of four wins, three draws and six defeats. The team has scored 14 goals and conceded 20 this season, leaving them with a goal difference of minus six and a significant 20 points behind league leaders Boreham Wood.
Their league form reads one win, one draw and three defeats from the last five, making the cup run a valuable source of momentum. This recent sequence includes the win over Brentwood Town on Saturday 17 October, a 2-0 loss to AFC Hornchurch on 10 October, a 3-1 defeat to Woking on 3 October, a 1-1 draw with Southend on 30 September, and a 4-1 loss to Harrogate Town on 26 September.
Sholing's landmark achievement
For Sholing FC, the draw marks a landmark moment in the club's history. The Southern League Premier South side, known as the Boatmen, reached the first round for the first time ever with a 2-0 win over SE Dons. Their reward is a short trip to Wiltshire to face Salisbury, with the club guaranteed at least £15,800 in prize money for progressing.
Eastleigh, ball number 76 in the draw, will welcome a Shrewsbury side currently competing in the fourth tier. The first round sees the introduction of clubs from League One and League Two, opening the possibility of glamour ties against former Premier League sides in later rounds. For now, the immediate task for Richard Hill's Eastleigh is to build on their cup resilience and translate it into improved league results, starting with the visit of Boston United.
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Eastleigh boss Matt Gray said his side "couldn't afford to panic" after their 3-2 FA Cup comeback win over Brentwood Town. The manager explained he had warned his players about the Isthmian Premier side's set-piece threat, which saw them score twice early on. Gray praised new signing Ali Koiki, who made his debut off the bench. The club, 17th in the National League, now prepares for the visit of Boston United.
