Sutton United 0 Eastleigh 4

After an even first half hour in which United had come closest to scoring, Eastleigh took control of the game with half time approaching and two goals early in the second half left Sutton with a task that was always going to prove beyond the.

The final margin was slightly flattering, and Sutton could argue that they had the rough end of key 50/50 decisions, notably a mysterious free kick award which led to the first goal.

Meanwhile, Jamie Slabber might not have been on the pitch to score the crucial second goal just after half time had referee Jake Hillier taken a stricter view of a first half challenge on Tom Davis.

But, ultimately, they struggled to break down a visitors’ defence bolstered by the return of captain Tom Jordan, who had missed Saturday’s game through illness.

United had an absentee at centre back on Tuesday, Simon Downer’s groin injury meaning that Andy Forbes had to deputise at the back rather than continue up front.

But they had the only real chance of an untidy opening spell when Richard Jolly fired the ball low across goal and Fola Orilonishe’s shot from an angle was kept out by Gareth Barfoot in the Eastleigh goal.

Kevin Scriven was largely untested, but, nine minutes before half time, it was United's keeper who was picking the ball out of the net.

Craig Dundas seemed more sinned against than sinning as he challenged a defender to a high ball, but the free kick went the way of Eastleigh and was launched in to the penalty area, where Brett Williams beat Scriven to the loose ball and set up Slabber, whose shot was superbly diverted on to the bar and over by a diving Dundas.

His good work was collectively undone from the corner, however, as loose marking and uncertain goalkeeping allowed Chris Holland a free header in to the net.

Straight from the kick off Slabber scythed down Tom Davis with the sort of challenge that can easily see players sent off, provoking a scuffle after which Mr Hillier showed him only a yellow card.

When the official then over-ruled his assistant to give Eastleigh another free kick it was too much for Kennedy Adjei, whose protests saw him booked for dissent, as El-Salahi had been seven minutes earlier.

Any sense of injustice that United felt was heightened five minutes in to the second half when Slabber doubled the lead, chipping calmly over Scriven as the keeper came out.

But it was just as much a self-inflicted wound, Bradley Woods-Garness losing his footing, and possession, just inside his own half to allow the ball to be played through to Slabber on the left edge of the penalty area.

Sutton responded by pushing Forbes up front in place of the largely ineffective Jolly, but barely had substitute Karl Murray put his foot on the pitch than another Eastleigh attack saw Tony Taggart’s low cross from the right divert in off El-Salahi as Anthony Riviere challenged at the near post.

Darren Ebsworth came close to giving Sutton immediate hope with a fierce free kick that was beaten out by Barfoot, although the absence of anyone looking for the rebound was disappointing.

It allowed Eastleigh to launch another counter attack which was only ended by a crude Ebsworth challenge that must also, like Slabber’s earlier foul, have had Mr Hillier thinking about the colour of the card.

There were few signs of Sutton threatening the lead after that, consistently failing to find a way through a well-organised defence, and Taggart and Williams might both have added to the lead.

Taggart, whose goal on Saturday had rescued Eastleigh, then crashed a superb 20 yard shot in off the post with seven minutes left to make it 4-0.

United were denied even a consolation by Barfoot’s scrambling save which kept out a looping Woods-Garness header that seemed destined for the far corner.

Their frustration was completed by a late and unnecessary, if harsh, booking for Murray, who like El-Salahi will therefore watch the New Year’s Day game against Tooting from the stands after accumulating five cautions.

Sutton: K Scriven, K El-Salahi, D Ebsworth, K Adjei, S Page, A Forbes B Woods-Garness, T Davis, C Dundas, R Jolly(sub K Murray 59), F Orilonishe (sub T Kavanagh 65). Sub n/u C Beard, J Gold, W Shaw. Booked: El-Salahi (35-dissent), Adjei (42-dissent), Ebsworth (61-foul), Murray(90-foul).

Eastleigh: G Barfoot, D Smith, R Bottomley, A Riviere, T Jordan, C Holland, P Adeniyi, T Taggart (sub L Robinson 90), J Slabber, B Williams, R Graham (sub S McAuley 60). Subs n/u J Crook, J Matthews, S Wilson. Goals: Holland(37), Slabber(50), El-Salahi (60 og), Taggart (83). Booked: Slabber (38-foul).

Referee: J Hillier (New Barnet).

Attendance: 237.