MATTHEW Le Tissier is set to prove the doubters wrong by signing on the dotted line for Eastleigh on Saturday.

After all the summer hype that surrounded his link with the Jewson Wessex League club, the 34-year-old Saints legend has made only a half-hour appearance as a substitute in a pre-season friendly against Bashley.

But sceptics who doubted that Southampton's favourite son would ever seriously join the Ten Acres crew are about to be proved wrong.

Now that winter has arrived, Le Tiss has got his appetite back for football and he caused a flutter of excitement in the Eastleigh camp yesterday when he put his name forward for Saturday's FA Vase first round tie at home to Deal Town.

Unfortunately, the registration deadline had already passed, making him ineligible to play, but Eastleigh will compensate by getting the area's biggest name to put pen to paper half an hour before kick-off.

It will be by far the Jewson Wessex League's greatest-ever signing coup - and arguably one of the most high-profile scoops in the whole of non-League.

Up until May this year Le Tissier, pictured below, was still a Premiership star with Saints and it was a tribute to his popularity that he bowed out with a sell-out testimonial at St Mary's.

Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell laughed: "I expect people thought I was a conman and that Le Tiss would never play for us, but I knew all along he would. As soon as it started raining and it was too cold to play golf any more, he was on the phone to David Hughes (ex-Saint and Eastleigh assistant manager) saying he'd like to play.

"He's going to train with us tomorrow night and sign on Saturday."

Newport last night wrapped up the signing of Isle of Wight-based striker Jamie O'Rourke from Havant & Waterlooville.

Port, who sold frontman Danny Gibbons to Bashley last Friday, were anxious to reinvest the cash in 26-year-old O'Rourke who, with James Taylor, formed one of the most prolific frontline partnerships in the Dr Martens Premier Division last season.

O'Rourke, who was out of contract with H&W this summer, had become unsettled after dropping out of favour at Westleigh Park and was keen to return to his Island roots.

Newport player-boss Steve Tate confirmed last night: "He is an excellent signing for Newport. We have got the best striker on the Island.

"It was tough to have to sell Danny, but he wasn't going to sign a new contract and wanted to keep his options open. I had to do the best for the club."

Robbie Matthews's tenth goal of the season last night has established Eastleigh as proud, new leaders of the Jewson Wessex League.

Paul Doswell's title favourites leapt two points clear of AFC Newbury after coming through a tough examination 1-0 at wet and windy Bournemouth Poppies last night.

The game was wrapped up on 65 minutes when newly-signed midfielder Jimmy Anderson delivered the ball to the back post for former Bemerton striker Matthews to head home.

It was no easy ride for Eastleigh against a competitive, young Poppies outfit and assistant boss David Hughes admitted: "We're really pleased because Poppies are a good side who will win their fair share this season - especially at home.

"They hit the bar in the second half, but I think they would agree we deserved to win. I felt we had two stick-on penalties turned down, but I'm not going to get involved in criticising officials."

With AFC Totton's game against Bemerton waterlogged, BAT leapfrogged their neighbours into fourth place courtesy of a 2-1 result at Moneyfields - their ninth game unbeaten in league and cup.

The Tobaccomen had it won inside 18 minutes as Dave Puckett met Dean Platt's free-kick with a diving header and then Richard Gregory slotted home.

It was backs to the wall after the break but Moneyfields, who had a player dismissed, could only muster an 81st-minute Carl Miller reply.

Praising a disciplined performance, BAT boss Andy Leader said: "We scored two goals and then challenged them to break us down - and they couldn't do it. We defended well."

Unbeaten Lymington & New Milton fell behind to a Floyd Hamoudu goal at Fareham, but bounced back to win 3-1 through an Anthony Tilley free-kick, Leigh Phillips's 17th goal of the season and a Kevin Gill volley.

Linnets boss Graham Kemp admitted: "It's nice to bounce back after the FA Cup defeat because that knocked the stuffing out of us a bit."

Hamble's fixture against Gosport was rained off, but there were goal feasts elsewhere with Thatcham outgunning Alton 6-4 and Andover surging back from 3-1 down to beat Christchurch 5-3 at Hurn Bridge through Vince Rusher (2), Paul Hughes, Mario Nurse and Ian Knight.