NEWPORT IoW are hoping to persuade Navy striker Fraser Quirke back to the Island to bolster their Ryman League Division 1 survival fight.

The former Bashley player/assistant manager has been regaining fitness with Wessex Division 2 outfit US Portsmouth since suffering a serious knee injury at Fleet Town.

At 37, Quirke, a former Newport player, is coming towards the end of his career. But manager-in-waiting Steve Leigh believes his experience and physical presence could prove invaluable to the Islanders, who are precariously perched three points above the drop zone, having played a game more than second-to-bottom Ashford Town.

Leigh said: "Although Dave Greening's scored a lot of goals, he's only young and, if it comes down to a battle, he's not going to give you much.

"Fraser is a good, aggressive centre-forward with plenty of character, who will work hard and hopefully make us stronger.

"I'm going to speak to him this week and maybe he'll be in line to come to Walton & Hersham with us on Saturday. It's up to Fraser to decide if he wants Ryman football or to play in Wessex 2. I know what I'd do - and that's play at the highest level."

Lymington & New Milton can close to within a point of Wessex League leaders Winchester City by winning their game in hand at Alton Town tonight.

Not since his AFC Totton days three seasons ago has manager Ian Robinson come so tantalisingly close to the title, but he is determined to keep his feet on the ground.

He said: "I could easily get excited, but there's still a lot of football to be played and it depends how much we fancy it tonight.

"We beat Alton 2-0 a couple of weeks ago, but they get men behind the ball and it's not going to be a game for the purists.

"After tonight, we've got two local games coming up at Wimborne (Saturday, noon) and at home to Brockenhurst (Monday, 7.45), which won't be easy."

Linnets welcome midfielder Chris Smith back from suspension.

Gosport Borough have a daunting 4-1 first leg deficit to overcome against Winchester City tonight in the Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final.

Despite their recent problems, Winchester remain Borough's bogey side and assistant manager Gary Lee admitted: "They still have a hold over us psychologically.

"I personally don't think Winchester are the force they were, but they're still by far the best side in this league football-wise."

Borough are still without injured trio Karl Lis, Perry Holland and Bjay Green, while their ex-Winchester duo Kevin Brewster and Dave Goss are cup-tied.

Brockenhurst's Graham Kemp has ruled himself out of the running to replace Shaun Brooks as Bournemouth Poppies manager.

Since Brooks revealed his decision to quit at the end of the season, Bournemouth-based Kemp has been touted as a possible replacement.

But the Badgers' boss said: "It would be a sideways step into the unknown and I would only consider leaving Brock for a club capable of challenging at the top of the league."

Tauntons College go in search of a Hampshire Colleges Cup double tomorrow.

The 1st XI take on Basingstoke COT at Stoneham Lane in the county final (2pm) - at the same time that the 2nd XI face Queen Mary's at the same venue in the final of their cup.