Here we go again.

Once more, as we’ve become accustomed to in recent times, Eastleigh FC are writing history.

In 2014 alone they’ve won the Conference South for the first time, played at Conference National level for the first time and are playing on new frontiers almost on a weekly basis.

Now, to add to their landmarks this year, they will play in the FA Cup second round for the first time.

Tonight, just after 7pm, the Spitfires will be drawn out the hat.

They could face League 1 leaders Bristol City, they could face fellow non-league opposition.

They are just one round away from facing Premier League opposition.

Just 90 minutes away from drawing Saints or Manchester United or Chelsea.

That is truly the magic of the FA Cup – a club going, once more, into the unknown.

And that cup magic was at its full-blown best on Saturday as, with time running out against Lincoln, Ben Wright cut-back to Ben Strevens at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Imps had levelled through substitute Delano Sam-Yorke 15 minutes earlier.

They had pounded Ross Flitney’s goal for much of the second half and were looking the more likely to win in the closing stages.

Craig McAllister had given Eastleigh the lead after nine minutes with a powerful header in a domineering first half display by the hosts.

But with the pitch cut to shreds thanks to the incessant rain, and Lincoln, desperate to stay in the competition, the second half saw Eastleigh lose control.

Jordan Burrow fired painfully over from five yards before sub Sam-Yorke darted through, breaking the offside trap and slotting in the equaliser with 18 minutes left.

Just as a replay seemed inevitable, Wright – as he did so often last season when he netted important goals to help Richard Hill’s side win the Conference South title – pulled-off a moment that changed the tie.

Brought on minutes earlier for Stuart Fleetwood, Wright clipped the ball back to veteran Strevens. With space in the box, the 34-year-old set himself and slotted right past the outstretched arm of Paul Farman. “The support, and the roar at the end when Strevs scored, shows their enthusiasm for this club,” said Hill about the Spitfires faithful. “You could see how much this meant.

“Our supporters have been fantastic. They’re part of something special.

“They should saviour these times.

“We’re in the next round of the FA Cup for goodness sake; this is another step in the right direction for this football club.

“We’re into the second round – another first for this football club.

“And that is more important than anything.”

But while Hill allows his fans to get carried away with the progress Eastleigh are making, the boss is remaining staunchly focused on his duty to the club.

“It was all excitement as a kid,” he said, reminiscing of times watching the FA Cup.

“It’s changed now, but when I was a kid you’d wake up on FA Cup final day and be excited.

“But as a manager? It’s a game of football.

“It’s like anything else – I stay in work by the amount of results I get.

“The amount of years I’ve been in this industry, you get a little bit cynical. It’s quite hard to wrestle your thoughts from that.

“Especially when you come onto the coaching side, because your job is to win football matches.

“Whether that be Hampshire Senior Cup, FA Cup, FA Trophy or the league.

“My job happens on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays, when we’re on the training ground.

“I will prepare them (the team) with as much information as possible for the next team ahead.

“Credit to Lincoln. A lot of people were turning around saying there was a good chance we’d be in the second round – virtually saying that we were already in the second round.

“I knew it was going to be a lot more difficult. I’ve seen Lincoln play twice now. We’ve also had a scout watching them at Forest Green.

“That’s how seriously we’re taking this competition.

“We took a bit of a hiding in the second half and everyone will draw on the fact, in my opinion, that we were lucky.

“We were unlucky coming off the field at half time not being three or four nil up. Because we played some very good football in the first half and they’ve got a couple of blocks in.

“They had a go and they managed to score.

“We managed to weather the storm, but you always know we’ll get another chance – especially with a player like Ben Wright on the pitch.

“He’s done great for the goal.

“You can see he’s gone to shoot but he’s nicked one into Strevs.”

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Dan Spence, Michael Green, Craig Stanley, James Constable (Yemi Odubade 73), Jai Reason (Chris Todd 89), Craig McAllister, Stuart Fleetwood (Ben Wright 84), Ben Strevens, Will Evans, Paul Reid (c). Subs not used: Jack Midson, Tony Lee, Hussien Heidari, Josh Helm.

Att: 873