Newport IoW goalkeeper Joe McCormack says the Islanders are beginning to believe in their ability to play Ryman Division 1 football.

After a rocky start to the season, Port are starting to find their feet and made further progress last night with a 2-2 home draw against Dorking.

Twice they trailed to Nusungu strikes at St George's Park, but twice they hit back with goals teed up by the outstanding Adam Barsdell.

First the man known as Barny delivered a corner for Jamie White to head home and then he crossed for new signing Dave Greening to tap in his second goal in as many matches.

After taking weeks to break their scoring duck, Newport are making chances galore.

As well as having a Chris Bridges 'goal' disallowed last night, they rattled the woodwork three times, including a late Barsdell shot that smacked the bar.

McCormack, pictured left, whose dad Roger filled in for holidaying manager John Linington, said: "We've played three good games in a row now and we're starting to believe in ourselves after some bad luck at the start of the season.

"Dave Greening's really livened us up. He's so quick and he's added a bit of variation to attack. Barny was brilliant too - he had his best game in ages."

In contrast to Newport's positive mood, there were long faces in the Fleet Town camp after a 5-0 punishment at Croydon Athletic.

"It was terrible," admitted secretary John Goodyear. "We matched them for the first 29 minutes, but then they scored three quick goals before half-time and it killed us."

lNine games gone and Downton are still awaiting their first point in the Sydenhams Wessex League.

But new manager Jeff Softley reckons the signs are getting better - despite last night's disappointing 2-0 home defeat by Portland United, who were themselves without a point.

Softley said: "Portland had two shots and scored twice, but we dominated the game.

"We were two down at half-time, but it should have been 4-0 to us. It was the best performance I've seen by a Downton side in a long time, but it wasn't to be. It's a pity because the game was a six-pointer."

Downton fielded two new signings - Luke Hatchman, a forward picked up from local football and ex-Salisbury and Andover midfielder Callum Robertson.

"It's a long season and I just hope we're not too far behind by the time we've got some more new players in," said Softley.