Strevens hoping for Arsenal tie as Eastleigh earn Crewe replay

Posted Sunday, December 01, 2019 by PA

Ben Strevens wants an FA Cup tie with Arsenal after Marcus Barnes’ late equaliser secured Eastleigh a second-round replay with League Two Crewe.

Barnes came off the bench to flick in with just four minutes remaining to cancel out a first-half mistake from Max Stryjek which allowed Crewe to take the lead.

The Eastleigh goalkeeper, under pressure from Crewe forward Owen Dale, flapped under a Tommy Lowery corner and appeared to punch into his own net, which Spitfires boss Strevens says helped to rally his troops at half-time.

“There were a few words exchanged between the boys at half-time, mainly about the goal we conceded, but I had a few things to say too,” he said.

“To be in the hat on Monday with all these massive teams coming into it is fantastic for the club.

“The club would like to get Southampton or Bournemouth but me I am an Arsenal fan so being selfish I’d like to get them.”

Crewe boss David Artell, in contrast, was less than impressed with his side, who were up against it in the second half against a team one division below.

“I thought the result was fair. Both sides could have won it. We were better in the first half but poor in the second and Eastleigh deserved a draw,” he said.

“The gap between the National League and League Two is not that big so we never came here expecting Eastleigh to just roll over.”