Praise for Eastleigh keeper after taking Dons the distance

Keeper Joe McDonnell drew praise from Russell Martin and Regan Poole following Eastleigh's spirited performance in the FA Cup first round game on Sunday.

McDonnell kept out Ste Walker with three excellent saves, denied Dean Lewington, Regan Poole and saved Ben Gladwin's penalty on a frustrating afternoon for the League One outfit, who needed a penalty shoot-out to eventually book their spot in the second round.

Speaking afterwards, both the Dons boss and Poole, who saw his fierce strike tipped over, praised the stopper and the rest of his Spitfire team-mates for their display.

"Their keeper made some good saves to be fair," said Martin. "They were really good, really disciplined. I was surprised. They got tired towards the end, and without the ball they said they've never had to work so hard. They have been there or thereabouts for this manager, and I wish them all the best."

Poole added: "The keeper did a great job and they did brilliantly. In the first half, they gave us a bit to worry about. But they stuck to their task, their dug in, defended brilliantly.

"Fair play. If luck was on their side, they'd have been in the next round, but we'd have been really unlucky."