Wasteful Newport County held 1-1 by 10-man Eastleigh in FA Cup

The Exiles hit the front against the National League side through James Clarke in the second half but were pegged back in the 82nd minute through a contentious Chris Maguire penalty.

County really should have got the job done but instead must head to Hampshire, when they will know their potential opponents from Monday evening’s draw.

The Exiles should have hit the front early on but were wasteful in front of goal and it was goalless when Eastleigh were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute.

Centre-back George Langston, who had earlier been booked for clattering Will Evans with his arm, was shown a straight red for elbowing Harry Charsley in an aerial challenge.

The Exiles failed to make their numerical advantage count before the break when it should have already been game over.

It was the fifth game on the spin that they had fired a blank in the first half, a streak going back to the replay at Barnet, but they were in front 10 minutes after the restart when James Clarke swept in a corner at the near post.

That training ground goal should have been followed by a clincher and the Exiles paid the price for not doubling their advantage when Chris Maguire levelled from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute after Clarke was deemed to have dragged down Paul McCallum.

LEVEL: Chris Maguire earned a replay for Eastleigh with a penalty at Newport County (Image: PA)

Manager Graham Coughlan will be livid that they have given a cup lifeline to their lower-league opponents, and added another fixture into their January schedule.

There were 16 clubs beneath the sides at the start of the day with Eastleigh sitting 11th in the National League, within striking distance of the play-offs but beneath Oldham and Barnet who had been knocked out by the Exiles in the competition.

County were unchanged from the 1-1 draw at Sutton on New Year’s Day with left-back Adam Lewis back on the bench as he continues his recovery from a quad injury suffered in September and he was joined as a substitute by midfielder Aaron Wildig, his first post-Christmas appearance after illness.

It was a feisty start in a good atmosphere with the Exiles having the first half-chance in the seventh minute when Seb Palmer-Houlden headed wide from a Scot Bennett cross.

It should have been 1-0 in the ninth minute when Charsley broke down the left and crossed, which Palmer-Houlden got a touch on.

The ball was diverted to Evans, who shanked his left-footed effort when he had plenty of time and should have hit the target.

County were on the front foot and had appeals for a handball in the box turned down when Ryan Delaney had headed towards goal – it looked a good shout – then James Clarke had an effort scrambled away and Scot Bennett headed narrowly wide.

Langston was shown yellow in the 25th minute for clattering Evans and was soon joined in the book by Exiles right-back Lewis Payne for a clumsy tackle on Chris Maguire.

Palmer-Houlden had another chance approaching the half hour but headed a lovely Payne cross wide; the opener was proving to be frustratingly elusive.

They were pushing for the first goal against 10 men from the 38th minute when Langston failed to heed his warning and clattered Charsley like he had Evans.

This time it was a straight red.

Evans had the final chance of the half when he headed over from another Payne cross and it should have been game over at the break rather than level-pegging.

It was a lively start to the second half with Shane McLoughlin forcing a one-handed save from Joe McDonnell before the visitors were inches away from a shock opener on the counter, Chris Maguire beating Joe Townsend with a powerful shot but denied by the left post.

County midfielder Bryn Morris spreads play (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The Exiles took advantage of that escape in the 56th minute when McLoughlin fired a low corner to the near post from the right and Clarke finished superbly.

County had a chance to put the tie to bed if they could find some quality in the final third, with Bryn Morris firing a long-range shot on the hour that was well held by McDonnell.

Eastleigh were posing more problems – and Quigley went down in the box after a risky challenge – and Coughlan made his first changes after 65 minutes by bringing on Matty Bondswell and James Waite for Payne and Charsley.

That was followed by Eastleigh’s 25-goal striker McCallum conjuring a shot from a cross that was easily gathered by Townsend.

It was an effort that showed the danger of a one-goal lead, and then the Spitfires levelled in the 82nd minute.

Referee Ed Duckworth deemed that Clarke had dragged down McCallum in the box and Maguire kept his cool to slam into the top right.

County needed to regain their composure but lacked the quality to make the extra man show and failed to conjure a winner in five minutes of added time.

The celebrations at the final whistle were all at the away end with the Exiles having to do things the hard way later this month.

County: Townsend, Payne (Bondswell 65), Baker, Clarke (Rai 86), Delaney (captain), McLoughlin, Bennett, Morris, Charsley (Waite 65), Evans, Palmer-Houlden (Wildig 86).

Substitutes: Maxted, Lewis, Bright, Sanca, Wood.

Yellow: Payne, Baker, Waite.

Scorer: Clarke.

Eastleigh scorer: Maguire (penalty).

Referee: Ed Duckworth.

Attendance: Attendance: 4,966 (1,000 Eastleigh).