AFC Totton have signalled their intent to stay in the hunt for honours this season by signing striker Michael Jackson from Winchester City.

Manager Ian Robinson may believe that Eastleigh are unstoppable in their quest for the Jewson Wessex League title, but there is still plenty for the Stags to play for - starting with tonight's League Cup quarter-final first leg against Bournemouth Poppies at Testwood Park.

Jackson was not signed on in time to play, but Robinson is delighted to welcome the powerfully-built 6ft 4in hitman on board.

He revealed: "I tried to sign Michael from King's Somborne two years ago before he went to Bashley, but the Southern League football was the attraction to him then."

Although Jackson coped well in the Dr Martens League, he left the Foresters a year ago to link up with former Bash boss Bob Higgins at Winchester City, where he became the Hampshire League club's first full-time professional footballer.

But the 23-year-old has lost his place to former Basingstoke and Fleet Town striker Ian Mancey, who fired City through to the last 16 of the FA Vase with the winning goal at Newcastle Town.

Robinson said: "Michael asked to come off contract with Winchester. I heard a whisper about it and moved in from there. The opportunity came and we took it.

"I'm really pleased to have got him at last. For one thing it proves we're still in the market for good players and, for another, it underlines that we're ambitious."

Totton had also hoped to tempt Eastleigh's out-of-favour midfielder Kevin Reacord back to Testwood Park but, regretfully, Robinson announced: "I thought he wanted regular football, but he's decided not to make the move."

The Stags are without injured defender Danny Barker and unavailable midfielder Ollie Shaw tonight, but Mark Osman has recovered from illness and nippy frontman Paddy James returns from a seven- day suspension.

Brockenhurst boss Pete Moore is threatening to start for the Badgers in the JWL Cup at Bemerton tonight - at the ripe old age of 46.

Moore had so many injuries to contend with in the 5-0 defeat at BAT on Saturday that he made a cameo appearance as a substitute.

He laughed: "I enjoyed it, although my body was paying for it afterwards.

"The opposition were calling me grandad - they didn't know that I actually am!"