LONDON – Minor league Eastleigh suffered FA Cup heartbreak when they conceded a late equaliser to four-time winners Bolton Wanderers on a gluepot pitch at their snug Ten Acres ground on Saturday.
The Hampshire part-timers, nicknamed the Spitfires after the World War II plane that first flew from the local airfield, were on the verge of causing the day’s one genuine shock when they led through Dorian Dervite’s own goal.
They came back to earth with a thud when debt-ridden Championship side Bolton levelled three minutes from time through Darren Pratley to set up a replay.
On a day of 25 ties, holders Arsenal, bidding to become the first club to win the trophy three times in succession since Blackburn Rovers in the 19th century, came from a goal down to beat Premier League strugglers Sunderland 3-1.
Toiling Manchester United were minutes away from a drab stalemate with third tier Sheffield United at Old Trafford before Wayne Rooney converted a stoppage-time penalty to give the 11-times winners a 1-0 victory.
Manchester City and Everton also made it through to the fourth round, City winning 3-0 at Norwich City in one of four all top-flight clashes and Everton ending the hopes of fourth- tier Dagenham and Redbridge with a 2-0 win at Goodison Park. (Reuters)
Scores:
Wycombe Wanderers 1, Aston Villa 1
Arsenal 3, Sunderland1
Birmingham City 1, AFC Bournemouth 2
Brentford 0, Walsall 1
Colchester United 2, Charlton Athletic 1
Doncaster Rovers 1, Stoke City 2
Eastleigh 1, Bolton Wanderers 1
Everton 2, Dagenham & Redbridge 0
Hartlepool United 1, Derby County 2
Huddersfield Town 2, Reading 2
Hull City 1, Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Ipswich Town 2, Portsmouth 2
Leeds United 2, Rotherham United 0
Middlesbrough 1, Burnley 2
Northampton Town 2, Milton Keynes Dons 2
Norwich City 0, Manchester City 3
Nottingham Forest 1, Queens Park Rangers 0
Peterborough United 2, Preston North End 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2, Fulham 1
Southampton 1, Crystal Palace 2
Watford 1, Newcastle United 0
West Bromwich Albion 2, Bristol City 2
West Ham United 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Bury 0, Bradford City 0
Manchester United 1, Sheffield United 0
Postponed: Newport County vs Blackburn Rovers
