RONNIE Moore is convinced Eastleigh wideman Luke Coulson has the talent to push on to the Football League.

With debut-making goalkeeper Ryan Clarke hogging the headlines against Sutton last Saturday, Coulson’s superbly executed second-half brace was overshadowed in a nail-biting 2-1 win.

But the 22-year-old’s heroics were not lost on manager Moore who knew little of ex-Oxford City man Coulson when he arrived at the club but sees big things ahead for him now.

“Couls was injured when I came in and he missed my first two weeks here,” he said.

“Adam Dawson and Jake Howells had played well but, against Forest Green, I just felt Couls would be a bit more defensive-minded and he came in for Daws and played brilliant. To last the 90 minutes like he did (was great).

“He's a clever player. He can go inside, outside, he sees a pass and he’s starting to score goals as well.

“He’s one who’s going to kick on to League football, hopefully with us.  There'll be plenty of people looking. He's improving with every game.”

Eastleigh, up to sixth, take their eight-game unbeaten run to Woking in the National League on Saturday and will be made to feel especially welcome by Cards boss Garry Hill.

Paying tribute to the Spitfires, Hill said: “I've nothing but praise for the way they conduct themselves and for how they have been a help to us.

"They have loaned us Connor Essam and, before that, we had Yemi Odubade. Also, when Scott Rendell was injured last season, the Eastleigh chairman (Stewart Donald) made a strong donation to help with Scott’s medical fees.”

A condition of Essam’s loan agreement is that the central defender will not face his parent club.

Eastleigh might also have to make a change in that position after skipper Ryan Cresswell felt a calf niggle in training. Like winger Howells (tight hamstring), Cresswell is rated 50-50, but striker Scott Wilson (hamstring) is definitely out.

If Cresswell doesn’t make it, experienced former Morecambe man Adam Dugdale will partner Reda Johnson as the Spitfires target their sixth clean sheet in nine games.

“It’s a shame if Cress has to come out, but Dugdale’s here to play,” said Moore. “He came in at Bromley and we won 5-0.

"You can't risk calf and hamsting injuries. We've got two big home games to think of next week as well."

Hill’s kind words will not sidetrack Eastleigh from their three-point Kingfield mission - and nor will Woking’s lowly position of 19th.

The Cards have, after all, won their last three home games against Chester, Torquay and Wrexham.

“They had a dodgy start, but they’ve had four good results out of five and I saw the DVD of them at Tranmere (a 3-1 defeat) and they were unlucky," said Moore.

“They’re very attack-minded with lots of pace and youth. This’ll be as tough a game as we’ve had and we've got to be up and at them.

“It’s nice of Garry (Hill) to praise the club, but will he reward us with three points? That’s the kindness we’d like back!”