Eastleigh are Wessex League champions - but the promotion bubbly was on ice this morning.

Southern League officials were due at Ten Acres earlier today to check that the Stoneham Lane ground has been upgraded since their last visit.

Eastleigh are likely to be one of four clubs to enter the Dr Martens/Southern League in August.

The inspectors have six feeder leagues to pick from but Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell is still confident.

He said: "We're keeping our fingers crossed but I think it would be a travesty if we didn't go up, I think we'd grace the Southern League.

"We've done everything they've asked us to do. We've got a press box, directors' seats, ladies' toilets and we've fenced off the ground and made the away dressing room bigger.

"We're hoping to have an indication of where we stand by Monday afternoon." Chairman Roger Sherwood said: "Hopefully our playing record will make sure we go up.

"Winning the league with six games to go can't do us any harm and there aren't many Southern League grounds better than ours."

The promotion doubts did not stop Eastleigh celebrating their first trophy in 24 years in front of their biggest crowd of 2003.

Second half goals from ex-Saint Christer Warren and pint sized striker Martin Beck gave Eastleigh the 14th win in 16 league games they needed to clinch the title against nearest rivals Gosport with the final score 2- 0.

Warren headed home the opener from six yards after a corner of his had been tipped behind from underneath Geoff Sim's crossbar.

And ten minutes later Beck, who was playing alongside an out of sorts Robbie Matthews, drilled home the second from 20 yards after running across the face of the Gosport penalty area.

Beck's strike was a mark of the quality you expect from champions but for long periods a Gosport side without Perry Holland and Neil Scammell looked like the league leaders.

The prospect of having to watch Eastleigh assistant manager and club captain David Hughes lift the trophy straight after the final whistle was more than enough incentive to play the role of party poopers.

The tricky John Cripps was a constant threat and he, Karl Lis and Graham Lindsey produced chances that Scammell, the Wessex League's top marksman, would surely have taken.

Striker Mark Peach volleyed narrowly over and a goal-saving block from Hughes denied Gosport skipper Stuart Hensman.

And after slack Gosport marking had allowed Warren to head home a soft first goal, centre-back Luke Middleton headed against the base of Colin Matthews' far post.

But taking your chances can be the difference between finishing as champions and runners-up.

Warren and Beck helped Eastleigh make it 99 for the season but it is at the back where they really triumph - Matthews' clean sheet was Eastleigh's eighth in nine games.

Doswell added: "We never expected anything other than a hard game against Gosport. We knew we were going to win the league at some stage, even if it wasn't today, but there was a bit of pressure because we wanted to do it against our nearest rivals in front of our own fans. We were a bit nervous in the first half and I was a quite vociferous at half time and we improved after that.

"We might have won the league with a few weeks to go but we've never really been given a chance to relax.

"We were neck-and-neck with Lymington & New Milton until Christmas and then Gosport went on their fantastic run, taking 48 points out of 48, but we just kept on winning when they started to slip up, which is where the strength of our squad came in."

Only eight months have passed since Doswell took over as manager at Ten Acres but he and Hughes have given Eastleigh their first silverware since the Hampshire Midweek Floodlight Cup was won in 1979.

Back then the club was known as Swaythling.

"It's been a long, long wait for the football club so this is a very emotional day, it's as good as you get," said Doswell.

The Wessex league championship means as much to chairman Sherwood and secretary Derik Brooks as it does to anyone. They have been involved with Eastleigh in the club's various guises for a total of 67 years and are in no doubt about the class of 2002-03.

Former Gosport manager Sherwood, who has had spells at Eastleigh as player, manager and now chairman, said: "This is the strongest set of players we've ever had and this is the best day in Eastleigh's history. We've never won anything as big as this and we've done it in style. To do it against Gosport made it extra special!

"A lot of the credit has to go to Paul and David, they've put Eastleigh on the map."

Sherwood won the Wessex league when he was boss of Romsey Town 13 years ago.

He added: "I've always been a great believer in making sure you're in a position to progress before winning the Wessex League and we've got the teams to make sure we do that both on and off the park."

For 79-year-old Brooks, life does not get any better. He founded the club as Swaythling Athletic in 1946, when they played on the Common in the Southampton Junior League.

"In never thought I'd see a day like this," he admitted. "This is the best day in the history of the club - but I was a bit worried at half-time! The crowd here have been terrific, especially since Christmas. Now you know when a goal has gone in because of the cheers."

Meanwhile, Gosport boss Mick Marsh prepared to take defeat on the chin - by having a drink with Sherwood.

Marsh, who was Gosport reserve team manager when Sherwood was first team boss at Privett Park, said: "Losing here on the day Eastleigh win the title really rubs it in. It hurts but we did the right thing by applauding them and watching them receive the trophy.

"I've got more friends here than at Gosport and am jealous of their finances but good luck to them.

"At least we showed that we're not a million miles behind them."