Bolton Wanderers vs Eastleigh match report: Darren Pratley comes to rescue again after Eastleigh heroics mock FA Cup TV snub

Bolton Wanderers 3 Eastleigh 2: Those who condemned the BBC for ignoring the last non-league side left in the competition are vindicated by pulsating tie

It is all too much for the Eastleigh players as Bolton’s Darren Pratley is congratulated after scoring the winner (Rex Features)

BBC Television, whose live sporting portfolio is now so restricted they might start bidding for the World Shove Ha’penny Championships, had been roundly condemned for ignoring the last non-league side left in the FA Cup.

The drama might have lacked the epic grandeur of War and Peace, but for their £120,000 the corporation would have had an hour of rollicking entertainment that finished with one team being thrown a desperately needed financial lifeline.

This was not Eastleigh, who are one of the wealthiest teams in the National League, but Championship Bolton Wanderers, who were a couple of days from being wound up by HMRC.

Bolton’s decline dates back to 2011 and a 5-0 annihilation by Stoke in the semi-finals of the Cup from which they never recovered. It would be too much to expect the competition to spark a revival but the tie raised around £200,000 and they will next face Leeds, a club that knows where debt can take you, in the fourth round. As for Eastleigh, they may have faded after the third Bolton goal, but they lost as gloriously as any team can.

Given that most giant-killers have to do their slaying at the first time of asking, many thought Darren Pratley’s late equaliser in the mud of the Silverlake Stadium would have ensured Bolton would have had a reasonably straightforward passage to the fourth round. That, however, would have been to seriously underestimate Eastleigh. Their chairman, Stewart Donald, has put £3m into the club and they are far, far more than the clichéd collection of shop workers and PE teachers.

Their two goals scored before the interval were beautifully taken. Joe Partington, who scored the first, had been released by Bournemouth in the summer and had been good enough to play for Wales at Under-21 level. Seizing the ball from Andy Drury, he cut inside, drove past Dean Moxey and thrashed his shot hard into the corner of Paul Rachubka’s net. Partington was playing at full-back, but this was the finish of a forward.

Bolton had won once at home since September and this would have been another bruise to their confidence. They responded with plenty of possession and pressure but little direct threat. It left them open to the counter-attack and one foray finished with a shot from Jai Reason, who had described the BBC’s decision not to televise the tie as “disgusting”, skimming a shot past the post.

Then, just before the interval, Bolton broke through with what should have been two decisive goals. Their crossing had often troubled Ross Flitney in the Eastleigh goal and one of the best was delivered by Josh Vela. Gary Madine took it down on his chest, swivelled and drove home in front of the 500 or so fans who had travelled from Hampshire. They responded by singing: “You can stick your cameras up your arse”.

The turn of the screw came swiftly. A free-kick from Wellington Silva, on loan from Arsenal, was pushed onto the crossbar and Eastleigh’s failure to clear their lines was punished by a drive from Moxey that should have settled Bolton’s nerves and the tie.

Yet Eastleigh kept probing and in first-half stoppage time, they broke through once more with skill and composure. There never seemed the slightest doubt that once Kaid Mohamed was put through, he would score. He had just completed a transfer from Bath City, the 21st move of his career. At 31, he had experienced many debuts – and this was one that would not be forgotten.

Given that Bolton can no longer afford to pay him, Shola Ameobi will be planning his departure fairly swiftly, but it was his introduction that dragged the home side back in front. A one-two with Pratley saw the Bolton captain place his drive into the corner of the Eastleigh net. He had saved his side from embarrassment in the first match and now he had to do it once more. That alone said plenty about Bolton, a club that not so long ago was playing – and embarrassing – Bayern Munich.

Man of match Partington.

Match rating 7/10.

Referee M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

Attendance 8,287.