Eastleigh launch into this year’s FA Trophy campaign with the ideal combination of a home tie against lower league opposition.

Ian Baird’s Spitfires will face either Folkestone Invicta or Thamesmead Town in the third qualifying round on Saturday, November 20. Kent-based Folkestone, currently 20th in the Ryman Premier Division, were held 0-0 at home on Saturday by underdogs Thamesmead Town, who sit fourth in the Ryman Division One North.

The pair are due to replay tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Thamesmead’s Bayliss Avenue home in south London. Salisbury City – beaten Trophy semi-finalists last season – must travel to Lewes, while Basingstoke Town host a Hampshire derby against Blue Square Bet South rivals Havant & Waterlooville.

FA TROPHY Third qualifying round (Southern section): Dover Athletic v Woking, Braintree Town v Farnborough, Lewes v Salisbury City, Maidenhead Utd v Arlesey Town or Uxbridge, Weston-super-Mare v Dorchester Town, Basingstoke Town v Havant & Waterlooville, Eastleigh v Folkestone Invicta or Thamesmead Town, Cirencester Town v Grays Athletic, Sutton Utd v Billericay Town, Ebbsfleet Utd v Bromley, Thurrock v Dartford, Boreham Wood v Romford, Welling Utd v Tonbridge Angels, St Albans City v Staines Town, Truro City v AFC Sudbury, Bishop’s Stortford v Ashford Town (Middx), Brackley Town v Wealdstone, Chippenham Town v Lowestoft Town v Swindon Supermarine, Bideford v AFC Hornchurch, Harlow Town v Maidstone Utd, Bognor Regis Town or Godalming Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough, Gloucester City v Chelmsford City.