IT LOOKS as if the chalk and cheese partnership of Dave Greening and Fraser Quirke will hold the key to Newport IoW's Ryman Division 1 survival.

For the second Saturday running, the dynamic duo featured on the scoresheet as Port followed up their 3-0 win at Corinthian Casuals with a 3-2 nailbiter at home to Dulwich.

At 38, Navy powerhouse Quirke is nearing the end of his playing days, while the quicksilver Greening - son of Island strike legend, Steve - is still learning his trade.

They are polar opposites in build, experience and playing style which, according to Quirke, is exactly why the partnership works.

"David's everything I'm not," he laughed. "He's got good touch, he's a great finisher and he's really quick.

"But he probably relishes the fact that he doesn't have to get involved in the physical, nitty-gritty side of the game. He's there to get on the end of things and I'm a decent foil for him."

That much was proved after 27 minutes on Saturday when Quirke used his aerial power to head the ball into the danger zone. Greening proved too slippery for hapless defender Thomas Ababio and, after having his initial shot parried by keeper Paul Seuke's fingertips, he nipped in to bury the loose ball.

It was the least Newport deserved having already rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard effort from skipper Simon Pilcher.

On 60 minutes former Eastleigh striker Greening struck again, this time latching on to Tom Scovell's excellent through ball and cleverly flicking his shot past Seuke for his 22nd goal of the season.

When Quirke nodded home a third two minutes later following Ababio's woeful headed clearance from Scovell's free-kick, it looked like mission accomplished for Newport.

But 20 minutes of discomfort followed as Kenny Beaney gave Dulwich hope with a superb strike from just outside the area and then substitute Paul Scott scythed through the Islanders' hitherto solid defence to make it 3-2 with a minute of normal time remaining.

Relieved Island boss John Linington recalled: "It was 3-1 to Dulwich up there with ten minutes to go, but we ended up drawing 3-3 and I thought they were going to do the same to us!

"They were a footballing side, but we outbattled them. With Adam Howarth at the back and Fraser up front, we've added two big'uns to the spine of the side."

Quirke and Greening will fancy their chances of more goals next Saturday when Newport entertain relegated Croydon knowing a win should all but secure survival.

With two games to go they are four points clear of second-to-bottom Ashford, who play their game in hand at home to Bashley tomorrow.