Eastleigh manager Jason Dodd declared "bring on the hard work" after an under-strength Spitfires side were knocked out of the Russell Cotes Cup 3-0 by holders Gosport Borough at the Silverlake Stadium last night.
The Spitfires made nine changes to the side that earned a 1-1 league draw at Bishops Stortford on Saturday.
Darren Wheeler and Francis Benali were the only players to keep their places in the starting XI.
Instead, Dodd used the game as an opportunity to blood some of the younger and fringe members of his Conference South squad.
Sydenhams Premier high-fliers Gosport earned a quarter-final tie against Moneyfields thanks to a Stuart Findlay double and a Gavin Keogh header.
Dodd said the opportunity to look at other members of his squad was one of few positives he could take from the shock defeat.
"We lost so we were not what I was expecting and it is always disappointing to lose," said the ex-Dell star.
Full story, see today's Daily Echo.
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