SATURDAY'S visit of the Premier Division's basement side provided Green with the perfect opportunity to register a much-needed win.

And the Leek outfit made no mistake with a convincing victory to restore some confidence in the home camp.

The return of Paul Callear and Adam Sawyer provided Green with greater balance in midfield and the decision to name them in the starting line-up was vindicated when the home side took a deserved lead after just five minutes.

Patient build-up play culminated in a crude foul on Gary Gibson inside the Eccleshall penalty area.

The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and Green's marksman Martin Baker, pictured, confidently stroked the ball past veteran keeper Chris Holmes.

In reply the visitors worked hard despite fielding a depleted team.

And Eccleshall almost restored parity when striker Rob Adlington forced a magnificent point-blank save from Gary Wootton on 15 minutes.

Green continued to play the better football, but it wasn't until the 30th minute that they found the breathing space afforded by a second goal.

It again came from the penalty spot following a mistimed tackle on Godfrey Johnson.

Baker once again sent Holmes the wrong way with another confident strike.

After the break, Green maintained their authority, but found the Eccleshall defence a difficult nut to crack.

It wasn't until the 65th minute that they made the result safe.

Jamie Pointon's well-measured cross from the right flank left Eccleshall defender Nath Dyer in two minds and the unfortunate left-back could only watch in agony as his attempted clearance left his keeper stranded.

The visitors gave themselves some hope of an unlikely fight-back when they reduced the deficit with a well-taken effort from Nick Parton on 75 minutes.

Pointon proved to be a constant thorn in the side of Eccleshall's defence with his direct and powerful running. And the young striker was rewarded with a deserved goal of his own in the final stages of the match.

He ran on to a well-measured Gibson through-ball from midfield before firing home from the edge of the penalty area.

Green now face a gruelling fixture list over the next couple of months.

Tonight they travel to Biddulph Victoria's Tunstall Road ground to take on Congleton Vale (7.30pm kick-off) before Saturday's fixture at Goldenhill Wanderers.