Witney Utd 1 (Thompson 40)

Eastleigh 6 (Taylor 9, Gillespie 21, Poate 26, pen 36), Riviere 80)

Witney's FA Cup dreams were destroyed on a day that keeper John Okole will want to forget writes Kieren Bushnell.

Okole was taken off by boss Andy Lyne at half-time after an error-strewn opening 45 minutes, which saw the Blue Square South outfit race into a 5-1 lead in the FA Cup 2nd qualifying round.

Yet it was Witney who actually started the brighter.

Early on, Ricky Johnson’s back header from a throw eluded everyone in the six yard box, but the ball drifted across the face of goal.

Soon after, Ben Thompson gambled on a long Tommy Lewis throw to muscle his way into the box, only to see his shot parried by Eastleigh keeper Jason Matthews, before being headed clear.

Eastleigh went in front with a freakish goal, which saw Okole fluff a back pass, drilling the ball into James Taylor’s midriff.

The ball trickled back towards goal, and crept over the line, despite Okole’s best efforts.

The lead was doubled ten minutes later, courtesy of a fumble from Okole.

He should have dealt with Taylor’s header far better, but managed only to drop the ball to Richard Gillespie who bundled home.

Straight from the restart, it was 3-0, Shaun McAuley shrugging off his marker to drill home a superb strike off a post.

Okole dropped another clanger moments later, spilling the ball into the path of Gillespie, but the Witney keeper was saved by a late offside flag as Gillespie netted.

The fourth goal came from Brett Poate, who slammed a terrific strike past Okole from 20 yards.

Witney’s John McMahon saw a goalbound shot blocked by Trevor Challis, but almost immediately, Eastleigh stretched their lead further when Poate slotted home from the penalty spot after a Stuart Cattell handball.

Okole almost gifted a sixth when he dropped another cross into the box from the right, but redeemed himself at the second attempt.

Witney pulled one back as Thompson shrugged off the attention of Tom Jordan to score from just inside the area.

Richard Barrett replaced Okole at the break, and the visitors managed just one further goal.

It came 12 minutes from time as substitute Anthony Riviere collected the ball 30 yards from goal, before jinking past several flailing challenges and then slotting beyond Barrett into the far corner.

It could easily have been 7-1 four minutes from time, but Barrett produced a superb one-handed save to deny Riviere, whose rasping drive was tipped over.

Witney Utd: Okole (Barrett 46), Smith, Byfield, Henderson, Cattell, Lewis (Styles 67), McMahon, Mills, Johnson, Thompson, Younie (Mays 84). Sub not used: Bridges.

Attendance: 245.