NEWPORT IoW goalkeeper Joe McCormack has paid a high price for missing out on tomorrow's FA Cup trip to Fareham Town.

The Island number one has been stripped of the club captaincy by manager Steve Tate, who does not agree with him going away on holiday at such a key part of the season.

As well as ruling him out of tomorrow's intriguing first qualifying round tie against Jon Gittens' improving Wessex League outfit, McCormack's ill-timed autumn break means he is unavailable for the Dr Martens Eastern Division game at King's Lynn on Saturday week.

And with Bashley having waived Port's seven days' notice of approach for former Basingstoke and Fleet Town keeper Simon Arthur, McCormack will have to battle to regain his place when he returns to Island soil.

Should he sign, Arthur would not be eligible to play tomorrow, but Tate has persuaded his former Weymouth buddy Dean May to step into the breach as a one-off favour and will be handing the captain's armband to experienced central defender Pete Tagg.

Tate reasoned: "As a captain you have to set a good example and you can't have double standards.

"I'm trying to teach the lads the correct way to conduct themselves and I don't think that going on holiday during the football season is the right thing to do.

"I've discussed it with Taffy (assistant manager Steve Richardson) and it's something we feel strongly about. A club captain shouldn't be letting the lads down.

"Joe's a good lad and he's Newport through and through, but he must take responsibility for going on holiday at a time like this. It's not something I'm doing lightly, I'm doing it for the good of the football club."

Fifth-placed Newport have had a cracking start to their DML Eastern Division campaign, but will not be viewing Fareham as underdogs.

Tate said: "We're not underestimating them at all. Anyone who can beat Andover 4-1 like they did last Saturday has got to taken seriously.

"I played a couple of times against Jon Gittens when he was at Southampton and I know he's very well respected for what he's done in the game. We'll be treating tomorrow as if we're playing a team from a higher league than us."

Crucially for Newport, Richardson has recovered from a head wound and will return to the midfield engine room along with the fit-again Glenn Howes. Port, meanwhile, faces a fight to hold onto fringe player Paul O'Connor, a young right-back who is wanted by Hampshire League neighbours East Cowes Vics. Tate said: "There's a chance we could lose him because he's looking for more games, but I don't want him to go."

Erith & Belvedere's visit to Lymington & New Milton will bring back sweet memories for the Linnets' summer signing Warren Kenna.

The big defender was part of the Eastleigh side that sensationally steamrollered the Dr Martens outfit 5-0 at the preliminary round stage last season.

Kenna's brother Stuart was a substitute at Ten Acres that day, but he is unavailable for the Linnets tomorrow because of a 21-day suspension.

Stuart's absence on the right opens the door for Kevin Reacord, who recently linked up again with his old AFC Totton boss Ian Robinson at Fawcett's Field after spells with Eastleigh and Andover.

Robinson said: "Kevin was told he didn't figure in the plans at Andover and phoned and asked if I'd consider having him back. It didn't take much thinking about because people who get 30 goals a season from his position are hard to find."

True to form, Totton-based Reacord scored in the 7-0 demolition of Whitchurch last Saturday and Robinson said: "He's very much a confidence player and getting that goal will boost him up."

Lymington have also signed 21-year-old central midfielder Tom Burgess from Forest neighbours Brockenhurst.

AFC Totton should be at full strength to entertain Hellenic Premier outfit Didcot Town. Rob Savage, Stuart Salter and Chris Marwood are all expected back after missing the 2-0 midweek win at Cowes Sports.