What the press made of the FA Cup First Round exit
The Sentinel
CREWE'S FA Cup woes were to continue as they were knocked out by non-league Eastleigh on a calamitous afternoon at Gresty Road.
Ben Strevens' second-half spot kick sealed the win for the Vanarama National League side who took advantage of some sloppiness in the Crewe Alex defence to make the second round and sink Crewe to their sixth first round exit in seven seasons.
Ben Garratt saw red just before the goal for denying a goalscoring opportunity, with his replacement Danijel Nizic conceding the spot kick in the 71st minute which Strevens calmly slotted away.
It was a sorry afternoon from Crewe, who apart from the opening 15 minutes in which they squandered a number of good opportunities, failed to trouble the Eastleigh backline while their own defence was troubled time and again.
The Chronicle
Crewe Alex were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by non-league Eastleigh at Gresty Road on Saturday.
An hour into a poor all-round performance, the sending off of keeper Ben Garratt just after the hour mark turned the game the way of the visitors.
And when his replacement Danijel Nizic conceded a penalty, Eastleigh skipper Ben Strevens put the final nail in the coffin from the penalty spot.
The Railwaymen have now only made it past the first round of the FA Cup once in seven seasons, and have failed to make the potentially lucrative third round since 2008-09.
Daily Echo
Eastleigh produced the finest result in their history to knock League Crewe Alexandra out of the FA Cup.
Ben Strevens’ 76th minute penalty was enough to see off the League One side, who had ‘keeper Ben Garrett sent off after the break.
Strevens’ goal sparked scenes of pandemonium, with every single outfield Spitfires player racing over jubilantly to celebrate with their joyous supporters.
A few nervy late moments aside, Chris Todd’s team comfortably kept the side 31 places above them at bay for the remainder of the contest, to secure a place in next month’s second round.