LUCKLESS Newport IoW midfielder Leigh Cole has broken his leg for the second time this year - this time in three places.

The former Havant and Bashley campaigner is back in plaster after taking another heavy knock in his comeback game against East Cowes Vics in the Isle of Wight Gold Cup.

"He was taken down by a heavy tackle and has the same breaks as before, plus one other," confirmed Port secretary Dave Bartlett. "Leigh doesn't think he came back too soon. He'd been given the okay by doctors and he says it was the tackle that did it. He'll be out for the rest of the season at least."

It was the return of Cole and manager-in-waiting Steve Leigh that helped turn Newport's fortunes round in mid-season.

Without him, the Islanders have slumped back towards the relegation zone and have only three points to spare over second-to-bottom Ashford having played one game more. Port, though, remain optimistic they can escape the drop even though their next two games are tough - home to play-off chasers Metropolitan Police tomorrow and at third-placed Walton & Hersham next Saturday.

Bartlett pointed out: "The next week's going to be tough for us, but Ashford have got a really difficult run-in against virtually all the top sides and they're going to have to win a couple of them at least.

"We've still got to play Croydon (the bottom club) and, although I know Bashley have had some good results lately, we can maybe get something out of them on Easter Monday.

"The mood in the camp is buoyant. Although we lost 5-0 at Wimbledon last week, we played very well against an excellent side. If we'd played like that against Ashford, we would have annihilated them."

l Fleet Town head into tomorrow's trip to Tooting & Mitcham on a roll of four league and cup games unbeaten.

By his own admission, manager Paul Holden is the happiest he's been since joining the north Hampshire club in November and he says team spirit is booming too.

"We found a bit of confidence against Dulwich and it's built up from there," he said. "It was a difficult to take over in November, but I didn't want other people's opinions about the state of the squad to be my mistakes. I formed my opinions and I'm starting to get there now.

"Tomorrow's will be difficult at Tooting, but a Good Friday win over Croydon would more or less see us safe. Hopefully this time next year we won't be talking about needing a couple of points to stay up, we'll be talking about going the other way."