Managers Daryll Thomas and Martin Ball made three changes from the side that had beaten Gresley Rovers 2–0 in midweek. Toby Woodward and Jevin Seaton both returned to the starting eleven, while Marcus Marshall was handed his first start since October 2023. Sacha Markelic moved to the bench, with Jermain Hollis and Daniel Elliott missing out, which opened the door for Noh Abraha and Thomas Hodgkinson to return to the squad.

Eastwood began the tie firmly on the front foot. In the twelfth minute Alfie Flynn whipped in a dangerous cross, before Terry Hawkridge almost embarrassed the visiting goalkeeper with an ambitious effort from distance. The Red Badgers continued to apply pressure, Seaton twice going close with headers, while Blake’s sharp movement caused problems in the final third. Bugbrooke offered their first real chance midway through the half when their number ten broke in behind but dragged his shot wide of the post. The home side were then forced into an early change as Harvey Ridgley limped off to be replaced by Ryan Tait, with Declan Dunn shifting across to left back. Dunn himself went close with a powerful effort before half-time, and right on the whistle his through ball found Blake, who fired narrowly wide to leave the tie goalless at the break.

At half-time both Marcus Marshall and Phil Watt were withdrawn as precautions, with Elijah Morris-Wright and Sacha Markelic introduced. Six minutes after the restart the breakthrough arrived. Captain Jake Wright launched a long ball forward which Blake latched onto, chopping inside his marker before coolly slotting past the keeper to give Eastwood the lead.

Bugbrooke responded with a header over the bar, but Eastwood remained the dominant side. Seaton glanced a header just over from Tait’s delivery, while Blake again tested the defence with a deflected strike. Hawkridge twice stung the palms of the visiting keeper as the hosts pushed for a second goal, while Markelic fired over twice after lively runs into the box. In the closing minutes Woodward had a golden opportunity to seal the tie but couldn’t get enough power on his shot, allowing Bugbrooke to stay in it until the final whistle.

In the end, Blake’s second-half finish proved enough. Eastwood’s defence, marshalled superbly by Wright, stood firm in the face of late pressure to secure a famous win and with it a place in the last sixteen of the competition.

Captain Jake Wright was deservedly named Man of the Match, his commanding display at the back capped by the decisive assist for the only goal of the afternoon.
Eastwood CFC Lineup;

1. Sam Wilson
2. Alfie Flynn (Hodgkinson 55)
3. Harvey Ridgley (Tait 29)
4. Declan Dunn
5. Phil Watt (Morris-Wright 46)
6. Jake Wright (c)
7. Terry Hawkridge
8. Toby Woodward
9. Tyler Blake (51)
10. Jevin Seaton (Abraha 63)
11. Marcus Marshall (Markelic 46)

Subs
12. Thomas Hodgkinson
14. Sacha Markelic
15. Noh Abraha
16. Elijah Morris-Wright
17. Ryan Tait

Attendance: 68