Eastleigh close in on Premier place

Eastleigh 4, Burgess Hill Town 0

TWO victories over the Easter period have made it almost certain that Eastleigh will qualify for the Premier Division of the Dr Martens League for 2004-05.

Requiring a seventh-place finish - or better - it will now take a mathematical miracle for Eastleigh, who currently lie fourth, to finish eighth or lower.

Eastleigh obtained sweet revenge for a 5-2 defeat at Leylands Park with a 4-nil win at home to Burgess Hill on Saturday.

They made a good start when in the second minute Ryan Ashford, returning to the first team, put in a cross from the left and new hot-shot James Stokoe converted it.

A the other end Colin Matthews had to save a free kick from Geard with a visiting forward lurking.

Gannon had made a good save from Stokoe, but couldn't prevent Warren converting a cross from the right by Banger to make it 2-nil, a lead Eastleigh still held at the break.

They added the third when Woods converted a cross from Banger, and in the last minute substitute Paul Sales added the fourth after good work by Tyronne Bowers.

Burnham 1, Eastleigh 2

On Easter Monday, a 15th minute penalty by Nicky Banger put Eastleigh ahead after home captain Paul Brett had handled James Stokoe's shot.

They made it 2-nil when Stokoe converted a cross from Banger, and Burnham were reduced to ten men when Brett, who had been booked for the penalty incident, committed a second bookable offence.

That proved costly, however; following the incident, Banger had to leave the field with a broken arm.

Eastleigh looked comfortable in the first half, while Burnham could hardly muster a shot.

Stokoe had a good shot saved after the break, but Burnham showed they were still in the game when they hit the bar.

Fifteen minutes from time goalkeeper Colin Matthews injured an ankle ligament and had to be replaced by outfield player Danny Woods. As Eastleigh had used all three substitutes it was their turn to be reduced to ten men.

A goal from from Mernagh ten minutes from time set up a tense finale, but Eastleigh held on for a win that all but guarantees them a step up at the end of the season.

Doswell eyes the champagne

"As far as we're concerned we've done it," said Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell afterwards, "but we'll save the celebrations until Saturday.

"We'll see now if we can catch up any of the top three, but I doubt it."

Without doubt, promotion is something Eastleigh would have settled for in their first season of Southern League football.

Home games against Sittingbourne (tomorrow, 17th) and Folkestone (Wednesday 21st) are followed by a trip to leaders Tonbridge. The season ends with a home game against Rothwell on May 1st, but by then Eastleigh's promotion will almost certainly have been settled.