DORCHESTER Town are through to the Second Round of the Setanta Shield following a scintillating seven- minute comeback at the Avenue Stadium last night.

The Magpies looked down and out after just 10 minutes as Andy Forbes and Anthony Riviere gave Eastleigh a 2-0 head start.

Unlike previous weeks, the deficit galvanised director of football Shaun Brooks' troops and the home side set about turning the game on its head.

And, in the space of seven minutes, two superb free-kicks from Charlie Henry followed by a Jones Awuah strike put Dorchester into the hat for the next stage of the competition.

In a rip-roaring start the visitors raced into an early lead.

Damian Scannell showed how dangerous he could be after four minutes as he set up a header for Forbes. However, the striker's effort just flashed wide of Darren Behcet's far post.

The same combination were not to be denied in the eighth minute though, as Scannell carried the ball a long way before finding himself on the left side of Dorchester's penalty area.

The winger then crossed to find team-mate Forbes nipping in behind left-back Nathan Simpson, making his competitive Avenue Stadium debut, to slot the ball in between Behcet and the woodwork.

Barely 100 seconds later and the Spitfires extended their advantage. This time danger-man Scannell brought the ball down with his chest on the edge of the box and, despite home defenders getting back to him, the ball ran loose for Riviere to collect and slide the ball under the advancing Dorchester stopper.

At this point the pressure on Brooks appeared to be mounting as his side looked non-existent, and a watching Matt Groves' decision to leave the club looked a wise one, but an outstanding turnaround was soon to follow.

Ivan Forbes found himself in a good position to shoot but was fouled just as he went to release the trigger 20 yards out. The resultant rebound then fell to Awuah who smashed home, but referee Swabey had already blown.

Henry stepped up and unleashed a fierce strike, which had Eastleigh keeper Chris Tardif clutching at thin air, and the ball sailed into the top right corner.

The delight for all inside the Avenue was clear to see and the fans' voices began to soar, aided by the introduction of a drum.

Five minutes after the restart and the Magpies were back on level terms in identical fashion. This time Awuah was felled in an aerial sandwich by skipper Andy Harris and Rob Marshall.

Henry was in a hurry and took the kick quickly, too quickly in the eyes of Swabey who oddly booked the 20-year-old for his eagerness.

The former Cambridge City man calmed himself down and curled a right-foot shot again out of Tardif's reach. Henry's somersault celebration certainly matched the strike.

In the midst of Henry's dead-ball specials Scannell had Behcet at full stretch but his low drive just missed the post.

On 25 minutes the county town side completed their comeback. Forward Forbes had a shot blocked and the rebound fell to Wes Fogden, another player making his home debut, who cut the ball back to Awuah.

The Ghanaian's first effort struck the post but he reacted first to poke the ball home and send the Avenue faithful, management and playing staff into dreamland.

Awuah almost made it four for the Magpies but his header from Henry's whipped free-kick whistled past Tardif's post.

Strike partner Forbes, playing up-front in a 4-4-2 formation, also went close before the break but the Eastleigh stopper got down well to hold the Magpie's strike.

The second period started scrappily as Dorchester looked to consolidate their lead and keep the Spitfires at bay, which the defence did exceptionally well. Scannell in particular was rather subdued after the interval.

In fact it was the hosts who had the better openings on the break. Forbes ran clear of the Eastleigh backline but as he advanced on Tardif, under mounting pressure, he chose the unselfish option and stretched to lay the ball to Henry on his left. Unfortunately the pass lacked power and the visitors were able to clear.

Roy O'Brien was adjudged to have handled in the area by the visiting players but the man in black waved away their appeals.

Every player wearing the black and white of Dorchester put their all into the game and showed the effort needed to see out the game.

There was one heart in the mouth moment though, as captain Alex Browne got a touch on the ball with his head as Eastleigh pumped the ball forward in the final few minutes.

Luckily for the Magpies' skipper the deflection off his head carried straight into the path of Behcet, who was stood a matter of yards behind him.