JEFF Softley hailed super striker Declan McGregor for guiding basement boys Downton to their first Wessex Premier League win after an extensive 21 match wait.

Their second win since October, coming at home to H a m w o r t h y United, arrived in the form of their maiden away win at f e l l o w strugglers R o m s e y Town.

H av i n g gone behind early on, D o w n t o n showed great courage to peg back the deficit thanks to goals from former Conference man McGregor, Jamie Waters, Craig Lewis and Martin Johnson, which have eased their relegation troubles momentarily.

“We were amazing in the second half,” Softley told the Journal.

“Whenever Declan’s in the changing room the atmosphere changes as the boys believe they can win when he’s up front. He’s not only a class act but is a nice, funny man off the pitch. His banter is brilliant.

“Due to c o m m i t - ments elsewhere, he’s missed 14 games this season but hopefully we’ll have him for the r e m a i n i n g four games.

“For the first time all season I could fill my bench and I actually had a selection headache. That is something I want every week not just occasionally.”

As the battle for survival continues, Downton visit Fawley, who are also stuck on 23 points at the wrong end of the table, on Saturday (3pm).

But after lacking confidence last week, Softley now believes his team can pull off The Great Escape.

He added: “After Saturday’s performance we can get out of it.

“We’ll continue to take each game as it comes but as long as we win three out of the last four games, we’ll stay in the Premier Division for another season.

One of the Robins’ four games on the diary is a trip to arch-enemies Bemerton Heath Harlequins on the penultimate day of the season (Easter Monday), who have won eight of their last ten league games, as the Journal went to press.

Their latest romp came at Christchurch on Saturday. A double from Ollie Roe, Tyler Brockway, Joe Sanger and Jack Slade completed a 5-1 win. Harlequins, still in sixth, host Lymington Town on Saturday (3pm).