NEWPORT IOW have come a long way since their Eastern Division struggles of last season.

By tomorrow, team boss Steve Tate should know exactly how far as he attempts to right the wrongs of his most embarrassing ever episode as a manager.

It was on a dark, depressing night last December that tomorrow's second qualifying round visitors, Tiverton Town, inflicted a humiliating 7-1 defeat on the Islanders in the Dr Martens League Cup.

Tate, in only his third month of management, was horrified by the sudden capitulation of his side, who conceded six times between the 52nd and 80th minutes.

The Islanders have done a lot of growing up since then and sit a satisfying seventh in the Eastern Division in the wake of Tuesday's 2-0 win at Bashley.

A continuation of that form would put them in with a shout of promotion next season when, under the non-League restructuring plans, the top seven/eight Eastern Division clubs will go up.

Tate said: "Tomorrow's not about revenge, it's all about how we're improving and closing the gap on the sort of teams we could be playing next year.

"It looks as if Histon, King's Lynn, Tonbridge and Eastleigh are going to fill four of the promotion places, which leaves another ten or 11 of us vying for the other four places. We've got keep trying to beat those other teams."

Ian Buckman has thrown a spanner in the works tomorrow. The right-back/sweeper, who is temporarily back at the club between coaching stints in America, is getting married and has striker Ashley Wright as his best man.

Tate has an otherwise full squad at his disposal, including former first-choice goalkeeper Joe McCormack who is back from holiday and ready to try and displace new signing Simon Arthur.

Newport have lodged notice of approach for Fareham Town's on-song frontman Jamie Musslewhite - a former target of Tate's when he was at Hamble ASSC.