Potential club buyer Peter Beale again watched on as Newport IoW cast their troubles aside to force a 2-2 home draw with Fisher Athletic on Saturday.

The Islanders were shorn of striker Jamie O'Rourke, who has rejoined his old club Havant & Waterlooville, but Gareth Keeping - a target of Bashley's - made his presence felt by hammering in the second equaliser 11 minutes from time.

Although Bashley are hoping to complete Keeping's signing today, Newport's acting manager, Bunny Warwick, reckons the goalscoring midfielder may stay if the club is sold imminently.

He said: "I've been told the deadline for potential buyers is today (Monday) and I'm hoping it'll be resolved as quickly as possible. If something unfolds today, there's a chance Gareth will stay.

"It's a bit disappointing that Jamie's gone back to Havant, but most of the Island boys are staying until they know what the situation is. Danny Hatcher's had several clubs after him and I think it's tremendous that he's hanging on in there when he could go elsewhere and take the money."

Twice Newport were plunged into arrears by Fisher's player/manager Gary Abbott, but they hit back with close-range finishes from Chris Bridges and Keeping.

The Islanders might even have won it had Hatcher not been denied by a late save.

"Yesterday's result was a real fillip to the lads. They were buzzing," said Warwick.

Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell marvelled yet again at the brilliance of ex-Saint David Hughes after a 2-1 win at Banbury had kept them fifth in the table.

Having dominated the first half but gone in all square at 1-1, Eastleigh found themselves under the cosh in the second - until the arrival of their midfield maestro turned the game on its head.

"I've never seen a player who can change the game on his own like David does," said Doswell.

With new signing Taffy Richardson at the forefront of all their good work, Eastleigh were well in command early on. Richardson could twice have put them in front before Nicky Banger brought the ball down and curled in the 31st- minute opener.

Banbury, hammered 6-1 at the Sparshatts Stadium last month, responded with a George Redknap goal nine minutes later and, but for the heroics of 'keeper Colin Matthews, the Oxfordshire side could have gone on to win it.

But Hughes's nuisance value soon paid off in the 78th minute when he was fouled on the edge of the area and Banger tucked away the free kick.

"For 25 minutes Banbury battered us and at that stage we'd have settled for a point," confessed Doswell, who was forced to substitute Chris Collins (groin), Lee Bright (virus) and Tyronne Bowers (hamstring).

Fleet sank to the foot of the Eastern Division pile having had victory cruelly snatched from their grasp in a 2-2 draw at fellow strugglers Corby.

Mick Catlin's men looked certain to bring their nine-match winless run to a close with goals by Shaun Hale and Craig Leworthy, but they conceded twice in the last two minutes as Richard Moore and Lee Vallance struck.

To rub salt in their wounds, Rothwell won 3-0 at Sittingbourne to climb out of bottom spot.

Manager Nick Holmes was disappointed that Salisbury could take only one point in a 2-2 draw at sixth-placed Folkestone Invicta.

"We were the better side for most of the game and would have won it apart from some bad defending when we went to sleep," he said. "For their first goal we allowed their guy to turn in the box and our 'keeper was at fault for their second. Sometimes our defending worries me.

"We scored some great goals, though, with some good football and in the end did well to fight back after going behind with only minutes left".

John Ayling forced Josh Thomas to clear from the Whites line late in the first half but he gave his side the lead against the run of play on 53 minutes.

Twenty minutes later Salisbury got back on terms when substitute Matt Tubbs finished a superb move involving Thomas and Craig Davis but Ayling struck again for Folkestone with four minutes remaining.

A tremendous response from Salisbury saw Tubbs score a fine solo goal on 89 minutes.

Basingstoke Town were turfed out of the Ryman League Bryco Cup by Ashford Town (Middlesex). The third round tie ended 0-0 after extra time and Stoke crashed 3-2 on penalties.