MIRACLE worker John Robson has targeted AFC Totton defender Matt Parnell to bolster a Bashley side he believes can win promotion - and possibly even the league.

Although a crippling injury crisis shows no sign of abating, Robson has defied the odds to lead his patched-up team to three straight league wins, moving them up to fourth in the Dr Martens Eastern Division.

The new boss has never encountered a casualty list quite like it, but he can't speak highly enough of those who have stepped into the breach.

After watching goals by Danny Gibbons and Craig Davis bring Fisher's unbeaten four-match run to a juddering halt on Saturday, he said: "I couldn't ask for more than nine points out of three games without conceding a goal.

"It's all down to the players. All I'm doing is making them realise that we are given a point before we start each match and, if we defend well and work hard, we'll hold onto that and maybe get a break or two at the other end.

"The boys are starting to believe that and, all credit to them, they've done everything that's been asked of them. It means that when the other players come back they are going to have to show the same discipline and attitude as the lads who are in the side now.

"We've got quality players like Stuart Hussey, Mark Lisk, Graeme Gee and Dave Wakefield watching from the sidelines, but the boys on the park are maintaining a top-six or seven position.

"No one likes losing, but the results we've been getting would allow us to lose a game here and there and still be up among the pack. With the injured players to come back in and a couple of additions, we might even be good enough to go all the way."

Bash have already made their move for Parnell, but will have to fork out a fee because the former Gloucester City centre-back was put on contract at Testwood Park - at the insistence of former Totton boss Robson!

He said: "The lad's outstanding. He's 23 years old and he's physically and mentally equipped to go all the way in non-league football. The sky's the limit for him. He played regularly for Gloucester until he moved to Winchester to do teacher training and I know there are people there who still can't believe they let him go."

From the moment Gibbons struck the seventh-minute opener after Andy Culliford had bravely headed down Craig Davis's flicked-on throw, there was little doubt that Bashley would achieve their target of a hat-trick of league wins under Robson.

Bar a decent spell midway through the first half when Ben Farrelly planted a header just wide and Richard Brady's shot just cleared the crossbar, Fisher - themselves under the new management of former Aldershot top gun Gary Abbott - produced little to worry their well-organised hosts.

With Gibbons's non-stop endeavour complementing Michael Jackson's aerial prowess up front, Bashley made life increasingly uncomfortable for Fisher's defence the longer the afternoon wore on. Jackson, Mat Jones and Davis all had chances before the Foresters' second goal arrived in the 59th minute. Paul Gazzard played the ball into the danger zone, Jackson headed down and, with perfect timing, skipper Davis lofted his shot over 'keeper Michael Berger.

Gibbons should have added to Fisher's misery after Jackson had unselfishly set him up but, in attempting to lob the 'keeper, he managed to lob the bar too.

Andy Culliford had a couple of decent efforts thwarted as Bash kept up the pressure and the only time 'keeper Mike Hookway - in for poison-leg victim David Elm - was called upon was two minutes into stoppage time when he saved a Brady shot at his near post.

Typically, the one blight on Bashley's day was yet another injury. Gary Connolly was stretchered off just before half-time, victim of a yellow-card tackle from Fisher's Michael Smith. "He's got nasty stud marks right down his ankle," reported Robson, who looks likely to be without the wide man for Wednesday's eagerly awaited derby at Eastleigh (7.45).