EASTLEIGH’S season of firsts continued at the Silverlake Stadium last night.

This time it was their Conference Academy side making history by booking the club’s first ever appearance in the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

Lee Peacock’s young guns are due to travel to Gillingham on Saturday, November 8 after coming through a tough home test against Ascot United 3-2 after extra time.

Watched by a crowd of 166, the Spitfires took an 18th-minute lead with a sweet finish from Patrick Suraci.

Eastleigh’s Benny Read then smashed an effort off the underside of the crossbar before Connor Hall drew the visitors level with 35 minutes gone.

The second half was an eventful one for Ascot’s Joe Grant. Having edged his side 2-1 up, he saw Eastleigh’s Jack Attrill snuff out the lead with a low, curling free-kick on the hour before being shown a straight red with the 90 minute-mark fast approaching.

Ascot continued to compete well with ten men in extra time, but they finally succumbed in the 113th minute when match-winning hero Harry Weeks planted a shot into the top corner.

It was the second time Eastleigh had triumphed after extra time, having seen off neighbours AFC Totton 2-1 in the first qualifying round at the Testwood Stadium. They followed that up with a 6-0 away caning of Kingstonian.