ANY watching Sheffield Wednesday scouts will have learned little about Sunday's FA Cup opponents Salisbury City on the Isle of Wight last night.

City went down 3-2 to Steve Tate's Newport in the Dr Martens League Cup first round, but fielded only one player, Steve Strong, who is likely to make the starting 11 for Hillsborough.

Ashley Wright fired the Islanders ahead with the aid of a wicked deflection off defender John Purches, but Salisbury hit back with a brace by Aaron Turner in the 40th and 60th minutes.

Strong hit the post and then the side netting for Salisbury before second-string keeper Andy Burt let Adam Lang's 25-yard free-kick slip through his fingers for a Newport equaliser.

A disputed penalty decision settled matters in the 88th minute. Kevin Bush was adjudged to have brought down Wright and Danny Hatcher converted for the Islanders.

"We were awful even though we won," admitted Newport boss Steve Tate. "Salisbury had a lot of players who were trying to get into the squad for Sunday and they worked really hard for each other. They were a credit to their club."

Salisbury's assistant boss Tommy Killick said: "It wasn't a brilliant game, but we were unfortunate not to come out of it with at least a draw.

"The good thing is that we had six or seven out there in contention for Sunday's squad and they all came through okay."

Newport are away to Eastleigh in the DML Cup second round and have drawn an identical fixture in the third round of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Full HSC draw:

Portsmouth RN v Moneyfields, Aldershot Town v Locks Heath, Basingstoke Town v Fleet Town, Hamble ASSC v Fareham Town, Farnborough Town v Winchester City, Eastleigh v Newport IoW, Havant & Waterlooville v Hartley Wintney, Lymington & New Milton v Andover.