FORMER Saints striker Nicky Banger bagged a hat-trick of headers as newly-crowned champions Eastleigh returned to winning ways again with a 5-1 napping of Portland at Ten Acres.

Since clinching the title with a 2-0 victory over Gosport Borough a fortnight ago, Paul Doswell's men have suffered a dip in form collecting just one point from a possible nine.

Doswell said: "It was nice to get back at home again after those three away games and play on our own pitch again.

"We created lots of chances and as well as scoring the five goals, Robbie Matthews hit a post and the same Portland defender has cleared three efforts off the goaline.

"Our target now is to get three more points which will take us to the 100 points mark and we've got two matches, starting with Hamble today, to achieve that," added Doswell.

Eastleigh took the lead on 26 minutes, Jimmy Anderson's through ball released Matthews whose attempted lob was parried outside the penalty area by the Portland keeper.

The loose ball fell back to Matthews who blasted it home and sensibly the referee only cautioned the keeper who was soon picking the ball out of the net again when Matthews crossed for Banger to head home.

It was 3-0 just before half-time, David Hughes and Martin Beck worked a short corner and Beck's cross was met by Stuart Roberts whose shot rattled the crossbar but dropped down invitingly for Banger to nod in.

In the second half, livewire Banger was brought down in the penalty area and, while everyone else looked for Banger to take it and complete his hat-trick, Matthews grabbed the ball and slotted home the spot-kick.

However Banger did complete his hat-trick just minutes later with another header following a corner before Portland's top-gun James Reeve notched a last-minute consolation goal for the Dorset side.

Totton remain on course for the vacant runners-up spot - their best-ever finish in the league - following a 3-0 awayday success at Moneyfields.

Scott Bundy opened the scoring after 14 minutes when he fired home a cross by Mark Osman and Totton doubled their advantage 11 minutes later as Ben Thomson ended a slick passing move with a 20-yard shot past the keeper.

Their third goal came midway through the second half, Martin Whiddett nodding home after Bundy had headed the ball back across goal.

Totton make the short trip to near neighbours BAT this morning before hosting Bournemouth Poppies next Saturday.

In fact BAT did their rivals a big favour by holding Gosport Borough to a goalless draw at Southern Gardens which means that Totton now hold a two-point cushion over their nearest rivals.

Three-times champions Wimborne Town took full advantage of Gosport's slip, their 2-0 home victory against Andover lifts them above their rivals and into third spot on goal difference.

Wimborne, who have only failed to find the net on two occasions this season, had a narrow escape when Lions' Justin Bennett hit the crossbar in the first half.

They finally broke Andover's defensive resistance on 67 minutes when Stuart Cannie was upended in the area and Darren Powell duly dispatched the spot-kick.

The Magpies made sure of all three points ten minutes later when Gareth Barnes struck home a right-wing cross by Paul Manning.

Wimborne finish with two more home games - Portland tonight (7.45) and champions Eastleigh next Saturday.