'NEVER IN DOUBT' FOR SPITFIRES

EASTLEIGH manager Richard Hill claimed his side used the sense of injustice after George Langston's firsthalf red card to inspire them to fight back from a goal down to earn a replay with Newport.

- Andrew Penman

Centre-back Langston was sent off for an elbow on County midfielder Harry Charsley seven minutes before the break, leaving the National League side with an uphill task.

And the League Two hosts looked to be on their way to the fourth round defender once James Clarke turned in Shane McLoughlin's corner in the 56th minute.

But Clarke brought down 25-goal Spitfires striker Paul McCallum in the box and Chris Maguire, who had earlier hit the post, levelled with a confident penalty into the top corner eight minutes from time.

"We had to give it a go," said Hill, whose side dumped out League One Reading in the second round. "There was no point just keeping the score down in the last 20 minutes. We made positive substitutions and we've got players who are pretty special in certain areas of the pitch and anything can happen."