ALTHOUGH league specialists Eastleigh are pressing hard for a third straight promotion under Paul Doswell's glittering managerial reign, their record in cup competitions hasn't been too hot.

But that all changed at the Sparshatts Stadium last night where a 3-1 win over Gosport Borough clinched them Russell Cotes Cup final success at the fourth time of asking - or fifth if you count the old Swaythling Athletic days.

Goals by James Thornby, Alex Haddow and a Ryan Ashford spot-kick put Eastleigh comfortably in the driving seat before John Cripps buried Borough's 82nd-minute penalty reply.

It was only in the closing stages that the Wessex League visitors posed a serious attacking threat as lively substitute Abdoulie N'Doye forced keeper Wayne Shaw into two top-drawer saves.

With the Ryman Premier play-off race uppermost in his thoughts, Doswell fielded a mixed Eastleigh side spearheaded by young strikers James Stokoe and Thornby.

It was a combination of those two that forged the fifth-minute breakthrough - Thornby punishing Borough's dithering defence with a diving header from Stokoe's left-wing cross.

Graham Lindsey miskicked a possible equaliser wide three minutes later, but ex-Eastleigh giant Colin Matthews was by far the busier keeper, depriving the excellent Stokoe and Thornby before he was beaten again on 35 minutes.

And what a goal it was! Ex-Saint Mark Blake arrowed in an exquisite ball from way out on the right which was met by a delicious left-foot volley from man-of-the-match Haddow.

Shaun Dyke forced another smart save from Matthews on 55 minutes, but the big keeper was helpless to stop Ashford's penalty awarded when Ian Rew tripped the tricky Martin Beck.

That was cancelled by Cripps's spot-kick given for Ian Oliver's foul on former Fareham forward N'Doye.

Russell Cotes glory may not have been top of Eastleigh's priority list, but Doswell felt they had done the competition proud.

"We took it seriously and approached it in the right manner," he said. "I expected Gosport to come at us a bit more and put a few more tackles in, but it was Colin (Matthews) who had to make half a dozen good saves."

For departing Borough boss Mick Marsh, defeat means he will almost certainly end his farewell season empty-handed depite reaching three cup semi-finals.

But emigrating to Spain will at least distance him from bogey side Eastleigh, who also knocked Gosport out of the FA Cup.

Secretary Brian Cosgrave said: "I felt sorriest for Mick missing out on the Wessex League Cup final. But that's football. You have to move on."