MATT'S THE CATALYST

Headed goals from substitute Matt Russell and Sam Francis and a magnificent late volley from Ronnie Green sunk the dangerous Hampshire outfit who have suffered a recent slump but had already beaten the Rebels twice this season in league and Bryco Cup encounters.

An instantly forgettable first half would have had any Woodside pessimists fearing the worst, although Rebels dominated possession and territory without regularly testing Eastleigh stopper Lee Webber. Sam Francis went closest to a first-half goal in the seventh minute after Shaun Grice outmuscled two Eastleigh players and slid in the striker, whose clipped shot bounced back agonisingly off the inside of the far post.

With Liam Collins largely a peripheral figure and new man Lee Charles struggling to make an impact, manager Alan Pook rang the changes at half-time, introducing Russell and shifting Charles onto the right flank. The move paid dividends, with Russell's art and craft making the Rebels look a more effective unit, while Charles began to link well with the excellent Stewart Holmes.

Within four minutes of the restart Worthing should have had the lead but Francis' close-range effort was well blocked by Martin Blake. Eastleigh went closest to snatching a lead, however, when an unmarked Craig McAllister somehow conspired to head wide from five yards after the Rebels were caught short down their right side.

The home side were gaining in momentum, however, and on the hour the deadlock was broken by Russell when he rose well to head home from close range an inswinging Collins corner.

And four minutes later, the lead was doubled. A slick interchange of passes between Russell and Charles put Holmes away down the right flank and his floated cross to the back post found Francis, who tucked away a simple header.

With Eastleigh unable to mount a serious challenge it was left to Green to ice the cake. Barely a minute after coming on as a substitute, the crowd pleaser thumped home a glorious volley from the edge of the area after a sweeping move and a Collins cross from the right.

WORTHING: Ormerod; Holmes, Pullan, Lutwyche, Dicker; Pulling, Grice, Rogers, Collins; Francis, Charles. Subs: Russell (Pulling 45), Green (Francis 87), Alexander, Ekoku, Packham gk. Att: 304.

Matt Russell is dual-signed with Conference South club Bognor Regis Town. Mark Pulling is unavailable for the visit by Harrow Borough on Saturday.