An afternoon of low drama at Kingsmeadow on Saturday was followed by an evening of high drama at Eastleigh in this Tuesday night FA Trophy replay.

With seemingly half the first team squad on the injured list, the return of Chris Gell could not have been more timely, as he took up the central midfield role vacated early on by Steve Watson on Saturday. Lewis Cook and Byron Bubb started on the wings and Darren Grieves started up front alongside Roscoe Dsane.

Despite these changes the Dons settled quickly against their higher ranked opponents, with quick passing the order of the day, and it was that which created the first chance of the evening after only five minutes. Darren Grieves slide-rule pass through two defenders found Bubb bearing down on goal, but the winger elected to pass square for Dsane and the ball was cleared.

Gell combined well with Daly in the centre of midfield all evening, the former's simply, but effectively, winning the ball and passing short, allowing the later to scurry around causing problems for the opposition.

The Dons were on top and looking for the opening goal and Grieves almost supplied with a header over the bar after a cross from the left. A murky ten minutes or so followed after the floodlight on the left corner the Dons were attacking failed. Dsane fashioned a chance for himself, cutting in from the left, but his low drive was smothered by the Eastleigh keeper. As full lighting resumed Grieves got to Lewis Cook's corner first but could only volley round the back post.

The Spitfires hit back with two good headed chances falling to Jamie Brown either side of the half-hour mark, the first glanced wide from a corner and the second crept over from Mustafa's cross. The visitors repeated the act just before the break, Steve Butler heading over Cook's cross.

The second half started at a cracking pace with the home side putting the ball into the box at every opportunity and the Dons using both wings to attack. Twice in quick succession Eastleigh put balls across the face of the goal, then Dsane got his toe to a big Andy Little clearance, but straight at the keeper. Dsane continued to torment the Eastleigh defence and Cook came into the game more and more. Dsane created a chance which Bubb curled wide.

With twenty five minutes to go, Anderson brought on Shroot and Fitzgerald for Bubb and Grieves, but it was Eastleigh who took the lead a few minutes later. Danny Smith curled in a cross from the left and the ball fell behind the Dons defence, David Hughes was on hand to tap in from inside the six yard box.

The home side then tried to kill the game off, denying Dons much possession and quickly shutting down what little they had. It wasn't until the second minute of time added on that the visitors got hold of the ball again, but they made it count. Sweeney's throw from his own half was flicked on by Gell and collected by Dsane. Dsane beat two players and switched it to Cook on the left. The winger took it forward and curled it across the face of goal where Scott Fitzgerald was lurking at the back post to tap in the equaliser. End to end in 14 seconds and pandemonium behind the goal.

Both sides were a bit more cagy in extra time, but the Dons were in the ascendency and further celebrations were warrented in the 102nd minute as they took the lead for the first time. This time Wes Daly and Robin Shroot combined to get the ball to Cook. This time the ball was curled in from deeper, but with the same result of shooting across the goalmouth. Dsane almost got a touch, but there was Fitzgerald again at the back post and he caressed the ball into the back of the net.

Eastleigh threw everything at the Dons in the second period of extra time, and it was dissapointment rather than suprise that registered when they took advantage of Daly slipping in midfield to break quickly down the left and cross for Steve West to head home the equaliser. Andy Little stood up to the ensuing onslaught and Cook could have sealed it with a rasping shot that was tipped over, but it was to finish 2-2 and thus penalties ensued.

Andy Forbes (1-0) and Roscoe Dsane (1-1( both scored, then Little threw himself to his left and down low to deny David Hughes. Scott Fitzgerald (2-1), Martin Thomas (2-2) and Lewis Cook (3-2) all scored comfortably - Lewis with his standing foot! - before Little got down quickly to his right to deny Darren Wheeler (3-2). Wes Daly (4-2) stepped forward to crash the ball into the net and Wimbledon on the road to Aldershot in the next round.