BEING slapped on the transfer list earlier this season did wonders for Eastleigh's tigerish midfielder Tyronne Bowers

Now the signs are that defender Chris Collins has also heeded the wake-up call after being made available last week.

Along with Rob Marshall and Danny Rofe, Collins starred in what manager Paul Doswell described as "as strong a defensive performance as we've had all season" in Saturday's vital 4-0 victory over Ryman Premier play-off rivals Staines Town.

Mark Dennis, Eastleigh's director of football, was delighted to see the transformation in the former Saints, Woking and Newport IoW centre-back, who he had criticised for "lacking desire".

The ex-Saints hardman commented: "We got some steel into our game today and Chris Collins's desire and appetite was back. Now he's got to do it for the next five or six games."

When news of Collins' availability broke, Salisbury boss Nick Holmes was the first on the phone and manager Doswell revealed: "Chris had the chance to go to Salisbury, but I had a meeting with him during the week and he said he wanted to stay here.

"Chris was excellent today and he's got himself another chance. But if someone wants to come in with £30,000 for him, he can stay on the list!

"We were much more like our old selves today and mixed in a bit of physical with the ability I've always known we have."

Not only did Eastleigh defend solidly, but they conjured up some quality deliveries from out wide - not least from the sponsors' man-of-the-match Bowers, who gave a typically busy performance on the eve of his 26th birthday.

By his own admission, the shock of being transfer-listed in September was just the incentive he needed to get back on his game.

Woolston-based Bowers confessed: "It was the kick up the bum I needed. I don't know why but I was just going through the motions, but people got behind me and told me to start believing in myself again.

"I feel I'm back to my best now - or, if not, I'm definitely getting there. I'm enjoying it a lot more."

After a poor return of just one point from the last 12, Eastleigh were desperate to turn the corner as quickly as possible and it took Ryan Ashford less than three minutes to fire them ahead from a cross by fellow ex-Saint David Hughes.

Andy Forbes cracked the foot of the post as they went hunting for a second and it finally arrived on the brink of half-time when Bowers' cross took a slight deflection off defender Kevin George for Craig McAllister to head his first goal since rejoining Eastleigh on loan from Stevenage Borough.

Ten minutes into the second half Bowers was again the provider with an inswinging free-kick that was helped into the far corner by master marksman Forbes.

Staines barely troubled recalled keeper Wayne Shaw until the 69th minute when he brilliantly turned over Gavin Tomlin's free-kick.

The big man then pulled off a smart double save to deny substitute Leon Gordon and Tomlin before Ashford rifled in Eastleigh's 81st-minutes fourth.

"We're back on form now," smiled Bowers. "We got together and had a little chat during the week and we all pulled together today.

"What's done is done and we can do nothing about that, but we can change things in the future. It's down to us now and if we continue playing like we did today, I can't see anyone touching us."

Eastleigh are confident of signing Slough Town's left winger Alex Haddow ahead of Wednesday's (7.45pm) Ryman Premier showdown against Salisbury City, who are also vying for his signature.