HE couldn’t quite stretch to full-on sympathy but Barrow joint-boss Dave Bayliss certainly felt some empathy for Eastleigh after his side snuck through to the FA Cup second round.

It didn’t take his ‘we rode our luck’ admission to confirm that he knew his side had well and truly got out of jail in the 2-1 win at Holker Street.

It was his almost guilty smile and sheepish body language as he entered the press box to conduct his post-match media duties that said it all.

But Bayliss has suffered the FA Cup heartbreak that Eastleigh did on Saturday before.

Two seasons ago Barrow were knocked out at the first round stage at then League One Bournemouth, losing the replay 3-2 after extra time at Dean Court despite a “magnificent” performance.

On that occasion the Bluebirds were taken into extra-time after conceding a 90th minute goal and then suffered heartbreak of their own when Cherries bagged the winner in the last minute of extra-time.

And after undeservedly beating Eastleigh thanks to two wonder-strikes, the second from Jason Walker, in the fourth minute of added on time, Bayliss recalled that defeat against Cherries.

“You don’t always get what you deserve in football and I feel like saying my heart goes out to Eastleigh,” he said.

“But that happened to us a couple of years ago against Bournemouth.

“We were the better side and got beat.

“And what goes around comes around in football.

Full story in today's Daily Echo, plus all the reaction, pictures and match report.