City live to fight another day in this year’s FA Cup, but only just, following a dramatic penalty save from goalkeeper Ricky Millard who more than made up for his errors against Bognor last week.

There were only two minutes of the ninety left when Jamie Southon surrendered the ball to Peter Knox, some forty yards from goal. The striker wasted no time in bearing down on the City goal with Glen Fuff backpedalling frantically. Despite this, the defender produced a well timed tackle to play the ball, however, Knox took a tumble over his prone body and Referee Hill pointed to the spot. It was the harshest of decisions but Millard saved City, plunging to his left to block Knox’s spot kick, Lee Chaffey reacting quickest to clear the loose ball.

Craig Dobson shields the ball

To have lost in such circumstances would have been harsh on a City side, who, although not at their best, had largely dominated the game.

Eastwood manager, Bryan Chambers, made the trip to watch City at Bognor and had clearly done his homework as City found it difficult to find space in which to play with Eastwood marking shirt-tight. This didn’t prevent City from enjoying some early success down the right hand side with Robbie Simpson and Craig Dobson linking up well. Eastwood’s Gary Sucharewycz did particularly well to slide in and clear Simpson’s rifled cross into the six yard area with seven minutes on the clock.

Despite the shackles placed upon City, they still managed to produce some scoring opportunities. Southon powered a header from a Craig Pope free-kick just wide of the target and Simpson flicked a Mark Molesley place-kick goalwards, only to see Danny Bryant in the home goal, claw the ball out of the air.

Eastwood’s first attempt on goal came on the twenty minute mark as Adie Francis looked to take advantage of a loose ball on the edge of the area but snatched at his effort and the ball dribbled harmlessly wide.

City continued to have the lion’s share of the possession and the best of the forward play with Eastwood happy to hoist long balls into the City rearguard in an attempt to apply some pressure.

With 31 minutes on the clock, City were dealt a major blow with an injury to Simpson, who had looked lively all game. The young striker went down under a heavy but fair challenge from Sucharewycz and although getting up and carrying on after lengthy treatment, was replaced by Michael Gash shortly afterwards. Simpson was taken to hospital with a suspected collapsed lung.

Jamie Southon powers a header goalwards

Eastwood produced their best and most effective attacking moment of the half shortly after the half hour mark. Chaffey’s weak clearance was seized upon by Knox who twisted and turned into the area, forcing Chaffey to turn his dangerous cross behind. From the resulting corner kick, Eastwood snatched the lead, Knox heading home with ease from just inside the six yard area

City attempted to hit back immediately. Breaking out of defence, Molesley hit a superb 40 yard crossfield pass into the path of Dobson. The former Lewes man would have had a clear run on goal but for the attentions of Francis, who had tracked the winger’s run. The pressure was enough to prevent there being any power in Dobson’s shot and Bryant gathered.

A generous amount of injury time saw more chances created as the half ended in upbeat fashion. Mark Fisher tried his luck from 30 yards but Millard was equal to it, taking a comfortable catch. City then went up the other end and Molesley was just off target with a low drive. Eastwood’s failure to deal effectively with Carl Williams near-post cross saw Gash head back into the danger area where Dobson kicked thin air as the ball came across him.

The home side were quickest out of blocks as the second period got underway. A Francis cross forced Millard to punch under pressure, the ball only going as far as Deon Meikle who’s shot was well smothered by Millard.

A decision to switch to a 4-3-3 formation after the break looked to be the correct one as City began to take a grip on the game. Paul Booth spurned a wonderful chance to pull City level when he intercepted Sucharewycz’s weak back-pass. With only Bryant to beat, the former Welling man elected to shoot rather than round the exposed keeper and Bryant was able to turn his effort behind.

Paul Booth slots home City's equaliser from the spot

Minutes later and City again came close. Gash produced an electrifying run to evade three challenges before slamming a low shot at Bryant that squirmed from the keeper’s grasp. Booth pounced upon the loose ball but Bryant recovered sufficiently to divert the striker’s follow-up around the post. From the corner kick, Gash flicked past Bryant only to see his goalbound effort hooked off the line.

After sixty seven minutes, City’s pressure eventually told when they were awarded a penalty. Gash did well to slip two defenders on the flank before knocking the ball inside to Dobson who was felled by a desperate lunge from Mark Stevenson as he burst into the area. Booth made no mistake from the spot hitting his effort high into the net.

Having finally got back on level terms, all City’s hard work was almost undone by a speculative long ball down the flank. Glenn Fuff appeared to have things in hand as he held off Meikle and tried to allow the ball to run through to Millard but only succeeded in gifting it to Knox who had nipped in behind. Fortunately for City, Eastwood’s goalscorer scuffed his shot and Millard was able to field the ball.

Gash threatened to give City the win as he produced a neat turn and shot that arrowed into the side netting before City’s 90+ travelling fans were put through the wringer with Millard’s heroics that see both sides lock horns again this coming Tuesday.