Eastleigh are still waiting to hear whether former non-league international striker Warren Patmore can be temporarily enticed out of retirement.

Their need for a frontline targetman hit home loud and clear in the second half at Gosport Borough on Saturday where they never looked quite the same after Andy Forbes had made his customary early exit with calf problems.

Although Forbes's replacement, Nicky Banger, popped up in injury time to ensure a safe 2-1 passage through to today's FA Cup second qualifying round draw, the signs are that Eastleigh will miss Forbes's frontline presence now that they have committed to sorting out his injury once and for all.

The former Winchester City goal machine, signed for a five-figure sum during the summer, is due to undergo an operation on Wednesda, which will take two weeks to heal and another fortnight for him to regain full fitness.

Forbes put Eastleigh in front after 37 minutes on Saturday, but once he had taken his leave with just nine second-half minutes gone, it was the signal for Wessex League pace-setters Gosport Borough to come into the game.

Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell admitted: "Without Paul Sales (broken leg) and Forbesy, we're short of people to hold the ball up. That causes us problems because the ball comes back at us all the time."

Forbes could have scored as early as the third minute at Privett Park having been found in space by an exquisite David Hughes pass, but Gosport's giant keeper, Mark Brown, blocked with his legs.

"I'd have stuck my mortgage on him scoring that one," said Doswell.

On 22 minutes, Ryan Ashford picked out Forbes with a deep cross from the left and, almost instinctively, he headed straight into the path of his former Winchester colleague Danny Smith whose first-time shot was well claimed by Brown.

Forbes sent a header straight at the keeper in the 34th minute but finally came up trumps three minutes later, polishing off a stylish four-man move. James Stokoe worked the ball across from the left, Smith and Martin Thomas helped it on and there was Forbes to prod a low shot to the keeper's left.

Although Gosport were strong at the back and tigerish in midfield, they desperately missed the guile and experience of the injured Neil Scammell up front, where young Graham Lindsey was partnered by one of Borough's many ex-Fareham players, Abdoulie N'Doye.

Lindsey, by all accounts, has been targeted by Fareham in response to Borough's interest in Floyd Hamodu, but manager Mick Marsh countered: "We're trying to get more strikers in, not lose them."

When Borough's equaliser eventually came, it was from a surprise source as youth team graduate Ryan Lock popped up with his first senior goal.

Rob Marshall conceded a free kick just outside the area on the left and although N'Doye had no joy amid the havoc wreaked by Ian Dyer's low, drilled delivery, the ball broke for the 18-year-old to put away.

It was almost enough to earn a midweek replay but, cruelly for Borough, Eastleigh scored with virtually the last throw of the dice.

Doswell's ploy to unsettle Borough's defence with pace paid off in stoppage time when a shot by speedy sub Martin Beck was parried only as far as predatory ex-Saint Banger, who marked his return from suspension and injury with a timely winner.

Gosport boss Marsh summed up: "We gave Eastleigh too much respect in the first half. It looked to me as if we were just waiting for them to score. But we got in amongst them in the second half and I thought we did ourselves proud against a team who play two leagues above us.

"Losing to such a late goal was disappointing, but that's how cup matches go sometimes. We did it to Herne Bay in the last round and now we've had it done to us. Eastleigh are a good side with quality players, but I told our lads to go out in the second half and make life difficult for them - and we did."

For Doswell, it was a relief to get a result at the first time of asking. He said: "I'm going to New York for my wife's birthday next week, so the last thing I wanted was a replay. Gosport made it difficult for us. This is a tough place to come. Gosport are top of the Wessex League - and rightly so - and we knew we were in for a battle."

Not only did Banger's winner secure Eastleigh £2,250 in prize money, but it earned chairman Roger Sherwood a free dinner at his old mate Marsh's expense.

Marsh cringed: "I suppose I'll go in the clubhouse now and see Roger with a great big grin on his face. But I normally pay for the dinner in any case. When it's his turn, he forgets to bring his credit cards!"

Eastleigh have agreed an undisclosed fee with Salisbury City for transfer-listed striker Robbie Matthews. The deal, which takes Matthews back to his Wiltshire roots, is expected to go through early this week.