Winchester City's FA Vase-winning skipper Danny Smith has moved to Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee.

He becomes a direct replacement for midfield man Danny Woods, who has joined City's Wessex League title rivals Wimborne Town on a three-month loan because he hasn't got the time to devote to Isthmian Premier Division football.

Former AFC Bournemouth defender/midfielder Smith has had summer trials with Conference duo Aldershot and Farnborough and was also high on Mark Morris's wanted list at Dorchester.

Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell had been keeping tabs on the situation and couldn't believe his luck when he got a phone call on holiday in Spain last week saying that 21-year-old Smith was interested in joining Eastleigh.

He said: "I went away thinking I'd lost Woodsy and came back to get Danny Smith. We're chuffed to nuts to get him because I didn't think we had much of a chance with the type of clubs that were in for him. I'd known for a couple of weeks that Aldershot wouldn't be signing him. It was between us and Farnborough and it's a big compliment to Eastleigh that he chose us.

"Our chief scout Steve Beck's been on at me for 18 months to sign Danny. Every time we've looked at other players, he's always said: 'He's not as good as Danny Smith!'

"We wish Danny Woods all the best at Wimborne. He asked if I would release him from his contract because he's struggling with work commitments and personal problems. If he wants to stay at Wimborne at the end of the three months, that's fine by us. Wimborne know the sum we are asking for and are happy to pay."

Unfortunately, Smith picked up an ankle injury playing for Farnborough last week and is unlikely to feature in Eastleigh's friendly against AFC Bournemouth's first team at the Sparshatts Stadium tomorrow (7.45). His debut is likely to be this Sunday (August 1, 3pm) - at home to his old club, Winchester City, in the Hampshire Chronicle Cup.

Eastleigh drew 2-2 with Wessex outfit Gosport Borough in Saturday's friendly - second-half substitute Robbie Matthews sandwiching a quickfire double between a Graham Lindsey brace for Borough.