AFC Totton skipper Martin Whiddett showed true leadership qualities on and off the park to stop Eastleigh adding the League Cup to their Jewson Wessex title in yesterday's Newbury final.

Having headed his team into a 39th-minute lead, it was Whiddett's half-time words of wisdom that persuaded his young front-line partner Paddy James to fight through the pain barrier in his first game back after four weeks injured.

Calmore lad James had been in two minds about continuing because of a badly bruised heel, but after clinching the cup with a rare headed goal on the stroke of 90 minutes, the 5ft 7in terrier saluted his skipper for urging him to play on.

He said: "It was touch and go whether I started the match and I wasn't sure at half-time about continuing, but Martin told me to carry on and suffer in the morning. At least I've got a couple of months to rest it now."

It was a big match too for James's former Tyro League teammate Darren Curtis, who was the architect of both goals against his old club.

The first half was devoid of chances until Curtis lofted a measured high ball into the area which Whiddett got to just ahead of Eastleigh's 40-year-old 'keeper Adam Gage who was selected, as promised, ahead of their £10,000 No1 Colin Matthews.

With the experienced Stuart Ritchie rock-solid at the back, Totton were good value for their lead against an Eastleigh side who have struggled for form since securing the Wessex title on April 5.

David Asker was the champions' brightest spark and it was the former Andover midfielder who had mustered the game's first shot after 22 minutes following a sweet interchange with Martin Beck.

After James had dragged an early second-half shot wide, Eastleigh showed a fleeting glimpse of their pedigree as Asker just failed to meet a wicked, low cross from ex-Saint David Hughes and then Robbie Matthews's free-kick was tipped over by 'keeper Wayne Shaw.

But, with fluency eluding Paul Doswell's men, Totton got a grip again and substitute James Sherrington drilled an angled shot just beyond the far post in the 75th minute.

Eastleigh's defence looked far from comfortable and their day lurched from bad to worse in the 84th minute when substitute Danny Woods - back from a lengthy spell out with a leg injury - was sent off for an alleged elbow on Scott Bundy.

Suddenly ten angry men were galvanised into action and extra time looked on the cards when Jimmy Anderson ran at Totton's defence and netted a delicious left-foot shot on the run with four minutes remaining.

But, with stoppage time approaching, pocket dynamo James popped up to loop a header over Gage, courtesy of a right-wing cross from his old Lordswood buddy Curtis.

Totton boss John Robson said: "Over 90 minutes we deserved it and it was a great goal from Paddy, but I was livid with the players at half-time because I didn't think we'd given enough - and neither had Eastleigh. It was there for someone to do that bit extra and win."

There were no complaints from the Eastleigh camp, with Doswell admitting: "They were hungrier than we were. Our season finished a month ago when we beat Gosport to win the league - that's been our problem. But you've got to give Totton credit for playing well."

AFC Totton: Shaw, Curtis, Clark (Sherrington, 22), Ritchie, Parnell, Barker, Osman, Bundy, Whiddett (Hurst, 90), James, Thomson. Sub: (not used) Winter.

Eastleigh: Gage, Warner, Beck (S. Kenna, 67), Roberts, Warren, W Kenna, Colvin (Woods, 51), Anderson, Matthews, Hughes, Asker. Sub: (not used) White.