Non-league Eastleigh will have to do battle with Bolton again after Darren Pratley's last-gasp leveller saved the Sky Bet Championship side's blushes at the Silverlake Stadium.

The up-and-coming Hampshire side's first third-round tie looked set to bring with it a famous giant-killing against the embattled visitors after Dorian Dervite turned the ball into his own goal in the 51st minute.

However, Bolton secured a replay three minutes from time after Pratley netted a scrappy leveller on a bog of a pitch.

It was so bad that the game itself was in serious doubt, with referee Iain Williamson only giving the green light for the match to go ahead 90 minutes before kick-off.

The rain continued on the already sodden pitch and it was Eastleigh who started the game brightly, with Yemi Odubade and top goalscorer James Constable having the best chances in the opening half an hour.

Spitfires striker Odubade was looking the most dangerous player on the pitch but had to be taken off with a hamstring injury, leading Kaid Mohamed to come on in the 35th minute, just days after arriving from Bath.

Bolton, who are bottom of the Championship, started to come into their own as the first half came to a close, but Eastleigh goalkeeper Ross Flitney was on fine form to deny Wellington Silva and Dean Moxey.

The hosts, showing the confidence of a side without a defeat since November, came out strongly after half-time and it did not take long for Jai Reason to unlock Neil Lennon's side.

The winger's dangerous cross sent the majority of the club-record 5,025 crowd wild as Bolton defender Dervite could only inadvertently direct the ball into the back of his own net.

That own goal seemed to wake Bolton up and they began to play more like a second-tier team, but Eastleigh were still pressing at the other end and would have scored a second had Ben Amos not provided a crucial save to deny Constable.

Bolton were struggling on the carved-up pitch and the Vanarama National League side had another chance after the referee called for a controversial free-kick inside the Bolton box.

Amos picked up the ball after captain Pratley's attempted clearance saw the ball get stuck in the mud, but the Spitfires could not capitalise.

The home side began to tire as the game came to a close and the Trotters finally found the found the back of the net three minutes from time, with Pratley's header finding the net during a penalty-box melee.

Bolton came close to sneaking an injury-time winner as a corner from Silva went just wide of the post, but Eastleigh - the only non-league side to reach the third round - were not to be denied a replay at the Macron Stadium.

Fans were left with mixed emotions after the match, with the joy of not losing to a Championship team tempered with disappointment the Spitfires were unable to cling on to their lead.

 

Ryan Hardy, 29, an electrician from Eastleigh said: "I'm pretty happy, it is a bit of a shame because there was a lot of hype towards the end and I really thought we had won it but the fact we got to this point shows how good the club is right now and we will only improve." 

Henry Smart, 27, a sales assistant from Chandler's Ford said: "it's annoying that we didn't win, there was so much hype around it all day but the atmosphere has been brilliant and it's been a magic experience seeing the club come this far for the first time in its history. There's so much prestige attached to the FA Cup so hopefully we'll do better next time." 

Megan Rhodes, 30, customer service worker from Eastleigh said: "I'm gutted, they're my home team and I really thought towards the end they would win in so its a bit disappointing. But they did really well and it's been a very exciting day seeing it all unfold and all the anticipation with it meaning so much I for the club so it's been worth it." 

Dan Wheadon, 37, a store manager from Blackfield said: "I like following the club because it's where I come from originally and today meant a lot to everyone because it's a moment in story and I think although the it wasn't the result we wanted it's not a loss and we held our own." 

Richard Stanley, 45, a construction worker from Bishopstoke said: "the atmosphere all day has been buzzing, the magic of the FA Cup came to Eastleigh and it's been brilliant. It's a shame about the draw but it's not unexpected and it's not going to be our last chance hopefully we will pull through again. We're a very promising club at the moment and constantly improving with very professional players, it's a great day to be an Eastleigh fan." 

Amy Thorne, 28, a shop worker from Chandlers Ford said: "this was my first ever football match, I've grown up around here and a load of my friends thought because it was such a big game we should watch it. It's been amazing to see how much people love the club and it was incredible the hype that built up the more everyone thought we had won it. It's a real shame but the fact they got to this stage is really impressive."