Fleet Town's former Newport IoW defender Andy Darnton will miss the visit of his old club to Calthorpe Park tomorrow.

The Southampton-based centre-half, pictured, limped out of Tuesday's vital 2-0 basement win over Ashford Town with another hamstring problem.

"It's the other leg this time," reported the 35-year-old former Bashley man. "I think it's my age!

"I'll be out for a couple of weeks, which is disappointing because I'd love to have played against my old club. I was at Newport during Steve Mellor's time there and got well looked after.

"I have some fond memories of playing on the Island, but I'm a Fleet player now and I'm here to win."

After a brief upturn in results, Newport have been dragged back into the thick of the relegation mire, suffering four defeats in six games.

Fleet's record is even worse. Tuesday's victory ended a grim run of defeats dating back to December 18 and nudged them just above the Islanders on goal difference.

Darnton admitted: "It's a relief to have got that result. It wasn't a brilliant game, but we battled hard and took our chances for a change.

"Tomorrow's going to be touch and go - it's a real six-pointer. If we win and other results go in our favour, we could climb to seventh from bottom."

Newport have a couple of key absentees tomorrow. Defender Jon Holmes went to hospital with a severely swollen ankle after last Saturday's 4-1 home defeat by Burgess Hill, while Adam Barsdell starts a four-match suspension.

On top of being punished for his sending-off at Whyteleafe, the headstrong Barsdell misses an additional game for reaching five bookings.

Influential midfielder Leigh Cole should soon recover from a fractured leg, but Island boss John Linington can only envy Fleet for having the resources to bring new players in.

Paul Holden has transformed Fleet's squad since taking up the Calthorpe Park reins in November and Linington said: "A lot of the clubs have got completely different teams to when we played them earlier in the season. Ours needs refreshing, but we're not able to do it."

l Bashley will be without centre-back Matt Parnell for their trip to relegation-haunted Ashford Town.

The Winchester schoolteacher is off on a half-term skiing trip, leaving a huge void at the heart of the Bash defence.

Since joining the ranks from AFC Totton, Parnell has barely put a foot wrong. "He's a strong lad, he completes well and no one does him for pace," said manager Geoff Butler. "Above all, he's reliable, and that's how you like to sum up a defender. He's hardly made a mistake."

In Parnell's absence Butler may switch to a back three of Paul Gazzard, Chris Ferrett and Phil Proudley. Andy Culliford (groin) and James Stokoe (calf) should be fit to play, but Sayem Kabir is still struggling.