Forest Green Rovers 4-1 Eastleigh

Nine-man Eastleigh crashed out of the FA Cup at Blue Sqaure Conference Premier outfit Forest Green Rovers last night.

Manager Ian Baird blasted referee Brendan Malone after his side were denied their first appearance in the first round proper of the competition - after receiving two red cards in seven nightmare second-half minutes.

Andy Forbes, having missed the 3-3 draw at the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday, gave Eastleigh a third-minute lead from close range after fellow striker Paul Sales' overhead kick was parried by keeper Ryan Robinson.

It was just reward for an explosive start from the visitors against a side one division higher.

Matt Hann had already had a shot cleared off the line and, after Forbes had continued his record of scoring in every game he has played under Baird, Jamie Brown and Sales were both denied by Robinson in quick succession.

Brown's effort was tipped behind and Sales' side-footed volley was palmed over from the following corner.

But a 37th-minute header from John Hardiker levelled the scores and hot-shot Stuart Fleetwood headed the home side into the lead on the hour mark after Damian Scannell had appeared to be up-ended in the penalty area at the other end.

Five minutes later, Sales was sent off. Having already been booked in the 53rd minute, a two-footed lunge by the touchline gave Malone no choice but to issue a red card.

Right-back Harris became the second Eastleigh player to be dismissed in the 72nd minute, when he handled on the goal-line as he fell against the post trying to prevent a third goal.

When Malone applied the letter of the law, the vocal Eastleigh supporters - there were 71 in the 753 crowd - had to be held back by stewards.

They were even more incensed when Fleetwood, the Blue Square Premier's leading marksman, sent Jamie Pullen the wrong way to score from the spot for his 17th goal of the season.

Forest Green sub Daniel Carey-Bertram headed home at the near post in injury time from Fleetwood's cross before Rovers' first-round tie with League Two Rotherham on Saturday week was confirmed.

Wiltshire official Malone dished out four bookings to Eastleigh on top of the two to Sales and Harris's red card.

Chris Piper, Hann, Scannell and sub Steve Watts were also cautioned.

And to compound Eastleigh's misery, Hann (groin), Karim El-Salahi (knee), Scannell (knee) and Watts (calf) all suffered injuries.

Ian Baird's reaction - see today's Daily Echo.