FORMER Portsmouth hitman Guy Whittingham had a hand in both goals as Newport concluded their Eastern Division home programme with a 2-1 win over Histon.

But Island boss Steve Tate has confirmed that the 38-year-old will be shipping out of St George's Park at the end of the season.

Whittingham has been seeing out the remainder of his playing contract after losing his job as Port's team manager and football in the community officer last summer - and there is no way the club can afford to keep him on.

Tate, though, could not have asked for a more professional attitude from the former Fratton Park hero, who has supported him well under trying circumstances.

"We can't afford to keep Guy and that's the reason he'll go elsewhere when his contract has finished," said Tate. "But I can't fault him. If there's one person who could have held a grudge it was Guy, but he's been tremendous. He's helped with training, taken the pre-match warm-ups and been professional in everything he's done."

There have been rumours connecting Whittingham with the vacant managerial post at AFC Newbury and Tate said: "If that's the case, Newbury will be getting a big asset.

"Guy's been a great influence on our kids. He's talked to them, helped them through and shown them what a quality player he is. I will be sorry to lose him."

Prior to kick-off Tate had given forwards Ashley Wright and Jamie O'Rourke a piece of his mind after some poor performances over Easter - and both responded with a goal.

O'Rourke headed home Danny Hatcher's cross following a through ball by Whittingham in the fourth minute and Whittingham was again the provider when Wright bundled in O'Rourke's cross for the 52nd-minute winner.

Peter Munns scored in between for Histon and he was later sent off amid a penalty area fracas. Shortly before that Newport's Leigh Cole had seen red for foul and abusive language.

Dorchester Town's 5-1 win at Fisher finally killed off Salisbury City's last lingering promotion hopes.

But the mood was anything but negative at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium where a 555 crowd watched City completely outplay Ashford Town - despite being reduced to ten men after only six minutes when defender Josh Thomas received a straight red for spitting. The early set-back only served to spur Whites on to some of their best football of the season in a 3-1 victory.

Former Weymouth and Bashley midfielder Gary Funnell was again influential and on 13 minutes he set up a good chance for Adam Wallace, who hit the post.

Three minutes later Wallace made amends by burying a close-range header from Funnell's corner and Whites underlined their superiority with two goals in as many minutes shortly before half-time.

First Steve Strong headed home after Scott Bartlett had left three defenders in his wake on a mazy run from inside his own half and the game was effectively killed on 43 minutes when Funnell fired in Salisbury's third following smart work from Wallace.

Wallace and Strong each missed further chances before Adrian Stone bagged Ashford's late consolation.

Whites' assistant boss Tommy Killick was pleased with the performance, saying: "We are a young side and, while it's disappointing to miss out on promotion this time round, our players can only get better.We'll be even stronger next season."

Whites, currently fourth in the table, have a chance to go third if they win their game in hand away to bottom-of-the-table St Leonards tonight. Three points from the doomed Sussex side would leapfrog Nick Holmes's men over Stamford, who had their promotion hopes snuffed out by a 2-1 defeat at fifth-placed Bashley on Saturday.

Bashley's supporters' player-of-the-year Craig Davis set the tone by having an early shot blocked and both Richard Gillespie and Paul Sales went close before Graeme Gee fired the Foresters ahead in the 40th minute.

Two minutes later home keeper David Elm spilled a free kick allowing Nick Ashby to equalise, but Bash boss Barry Blankley was convinced the free kick should have been given the other way for handball.

Unperturbed, Bash reclaimed the lead three minutes into the second half when Sales controlled Davis's long throw on his chest and smacked a superb shot past Ludek Michalik.

Fleet Town are destined to finish the season third-to-bottom after losing 3-1 at Chatham Town.

Adam Douglas and two-goal Simon Austin plunged them heavily into arrears before substitute Brenton McClean hit back late on.