NEWPORT IoW's manager-in-waiting Steve Leigh confessed he might have changed his mind about taking charge next season had the Islanders lost their fight for Ryman 1 survival.

Thankfully, it's no longer an issue. Saturday's 4-0 home hammering of relegated Croydon carried Port safely out of reach of second-to-bottom Dorking, who drew 0-0 with Tooting & Mitcham.

"It's a huge relief for everyone and massively important for the club," admitted former Havant midfielder Leigh, who will take over from John Linington this summer.

"To be honest, I was in two minds whether to stay if we were relegated.

"Managing's a big commitment and I'd rather take it on in the Ryman League than the Wessex.

"If I was going to be involved in Wessex football, I'd prefer to do it just as a player and avoid all the hassle."

After all the uncertainty of last season when Newport were plunged into receivership and had their St George's Park home sold, Ryman survival is a major achievement for a club that have had to build their way up again from scratch.

Leigh said: "It's fantastic for all those people who have put in so much work behind the scenes.

"We had a crowd of nearly 300 on Saturday and the bar was packed. You could see the relief on everyone's faces."

The turning point of the game came just before half-time when Croydon had a man sent off for kicking out at Fraser Quirke and Ashley Wright hammered home the resulting free kick.

Dave Greening got the second on 74 minutes from a Tom Scovell through ball and, after substitute Adam Barsdell had made it 3-0, Greening struck again late on - his sixth goal in three games and his 24th of the season.

"That's a terrific strike rate," said Leigh.

Fleet Town can also breathe more easily after virtually guaranteeing safety with a 1-1 home draw against play-off chasers Horsham.

Although Dorking could catch them on points if they beat Whyteleafe on Saturday and Fleet lose at Met Police, the Hampshire club have a superior goal difference.

Ed Smith fired Fleet ahead after four minutes, but the young striker undid his good work by getting sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half.

Horsham took immediate advantage when Gary Chapman equalised, but Paul Holden's men held out for a precious point.

Banstead banished their relegation fears with a 1-0 win at Bashley.

Ironically it was skipper Chris Ferrett - arguably Bashley's most consistent performer of the season - who handed the Surrey side victory with 12 minutes remaining.

Just back from a three-match suspension, Ferrett was caught out by the pace of Banstead substitute Neil John, who got on the outside of him and then cut back across him before firing home.

Manager Geoff Butler said: "Chris doesn't make many mistakes and unfortunately this one cost us the game. He looked a bit rusty and was feeling his knee a bit.

Someone else wouldn't have played under those circumstances, but Chris wanted to. It's just a shame he made probably one mistake all game and it led to the goal."

Banstead twice hit the post through Michael Beale and Bobby George, while Bashley's Mika Dronyk rattled the crossbar.

Bash felt they were denied a blatant penalty when Toure Mamadouba was pulled down.

"We worked hard and a draw would have been a fair result," said Butler.