CHRIS Todd revealed he realised just how good his Eastleigh side is during the Spitfires’ history-making FA Cup first round victory at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Ben Strevens’ late penalty saw off the League One club, who had goalkeeper Ben Garratt sent off in the 64th minute for hauling down Yemi Odubade just outside the box, writes Paul McNamara.

The winning goal sparked scenes of unfettered joy among an Eastleigh team which overcame a tough opening period to dominate their opponents at Gresty Road.

“I’m standing there and I’m thinking to myself: ‘Jeez, we are some team’,” said Todd of his side’s second-half display. “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but everything I asked of the players really came together today.

“It’s a great achievement for everybody involved with the football club. “All the credit goes to the players. They have put in a phenomenal shift today. I’ve told them they should be very proud of themselves.”

Todd admitted that he believed his side would have the measure of their Football League opponents – if they could successfully negotiate the early stages of a contest against a team that had ended a rotten run of home form by beating Sheffield United seven days previously.

“They are a young side,” said the Eastleigh boss. “They have suffered a few bad defeats - and although they had an excellent result last Saturday that can sometimes work against you.

“You might just take your foot off the pedal a bit. Mentally they might have thought: ‘It will be easy today. We’ve just beaten Sheffield United and now we’re playing a Conference side’.”

Indeed, the lone hiccup for the Spitfires on the day was their late arrival, the away team’s bus only pulling up to the ground 45 minute before kick-off.

It made for a fraught pre-match period for the Eastleigh manager and his players.

“No one prepares you for that,” confessed Todd. “You can do all the coaching badges under the sun, but who prepares you for getting on a bus that arrives late?

“You have to get the guys motivated. We had the shortest warm-up imaginable – about 15 minutes, but they responded brilliantly.”

Todd’s next bout of anxiety would come in the closing stages of the match, with Eastleigh unable to convert any one of a number of chances that would have killed off the team 31 places above them in the football pyramid.

“I felt we really dominated the second-half,” said Todd. “Even before the penalty went in we looked extremely comfortable. We were strong and it was a thoroughly professional performance.

“But at the end the chances were coming thick and fast and we couldn’t take them. I was just desperate to score again to make everyone relax. “It was still on edge. Crewe were bound to throw everything at it – and they did.”

Todd was also eager to pay tribute to a cacophonous travelling Spitfires’ support, which the manager believed helped his team on their way to victory in Eastleigh’s first ever competitive match against League opposition.

“The fans were outstanding today,” enthused Todd. “They really were the 12th man. I know it’s a cliché, but they were spot on.

“Those scenes at the end will stay in people’s memories for ever. Today was another chapter in the book. Now we have got to keep building.”

That process will continue with Tuesday’s National League clash at Dover, a match that Todd was casting an eye towards within minutes of the final whistle in Cheshire.

“I’ve told the boys to enjoy the moment because they don’t come along that often, but we have to be prepared and mentally right for Tuesday,” the Eastleigh manager insisted.

“There’s a winning feeling in that dressing room now. I have just got to make sure they are level-headed about it – which they will be because they’re experienced pros. “But we have to be right and ready for a tough battle on Tuesday.”

Before their midweek outing, Eastleigh will discover their FA Cup second round opponents. And with respect to the vagaries of Monday’s draw, the phlegmatic Todd is content to let fate take its course.

He said: “What will be, will be. We’re in that hat and if it’s to be a nice draw at home, then happy days. If it’s a tough away one like today, then here we go again.

“But I’m just delighted for everybody involved with the football club. It has grown in stature so much. That is down to the chairman’s backing and the fans getting on board.”

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