EASTLEIGH manager Ronnie Moore celebrated the best FA Cup result of his career after his side cruised into the second round with a 3-1 win at Swindon Town.

Jai Reason and Andy Drury gave the Spitfires a 2-0 half-time lead before Mikael Mandron secured a home tie against Halifax Town with a second-half penalty.

For Moore, it topped Rotherham’s 2-1 win against Saints in 2001 as the highlight of his managerial career in the FA Cup.

He said: “For me it’s got to be the top one, we’re a non-league side, they’re League One and we haven’t just beaten them, we played them off the park.

“If we can believe in ourselves we’ve got a heck of a team here. I’ll still try to bring one or two in but it’s a fantastic night for Eastleigh FC.

“This is a ground where I’ve lost nine times out of ten. Last time I was here we lost 5-0 and the time before that we were winning 2-0 when the lights went out – we came back and lost 3-0!

“So for the lads to play like that was fantastic. The first half couldn’t have been any better. What a great break for the second goal. I didn’t know Dukes (Andy Drury)could run that fast but he’s bombed through and Mika’s picked him out.

“It was about taking your time and being cool under pressure. It was a fantastic finish. We knew they were going to improve, it was just a matter of not being too deep.

“We were always a threat on the counter attack and could have won by more. We haven’t been that bad in the league but the difference tonight was that we took our chances when they came and you put the opposition on the back foot when you do that.

“The support was unreal but they scored from a lackadaisical moment for us.

“You can’t take the mickey as a keeper, you do the right thing and clear it. Then your heart’s in your mouth with ten minutes to go and four minutes of added on time.”

Eastleigh are now preparing for this weekend’s long away trip to Gateshead.

“If we keep playing like that there’s no-one in the National League that will live with us, we’ve set our standard now,” continued Moore.

“Halifax will be a decent team if they’ve beaten Dagenham. But it’s a great opportunity to progress into the third round. Then you want one of the big boys and [the chance to] make yourself a fortune.”