Newport IoW manager Steve Tate admitted "football never ceases to amaze me" after the Islanders got back into his good books by piling on the agony for Fleet Town.

Just four days earlier Tate had branded his players "gutless" for their embarrassing 7-1 collapse against Tiverton Town in the Dr Martens League Cup, but he was all smiles again thanks to an emphatic 2-0 victory at Calthorpe Park which leaves floundering Fleet clamped to the foot of the Eastern Division table.

"I asked them to go out and give me a performance and they did," Tate said. "I told them that if we could match Fleet for enthusiasm, then our ability would come through in the end and, on a difficult pitch, there was only one team in it.

"We could have won by six or seven, but I'm really happy with the result and the discipline my lads showed. That's three wins and a draw we've got in our last four league games."

It was Gareth Keeping - surely one of the most inspired signings of the season - who deservedly put Newport ahead in the 26th minute. Fleet skipper Rob Marshall was adjudged to have handled in the area and the former Lymington & New Milton midfielder punished him from the spot.

It took some fine saves from Fleet's newly-signed 22-year-old Army 'keeper David Blackmore to keep the Island threat at bay, but the north Hampshire club were pierced again in the 73rd minute when substitute Adam Barsdell cashed in on a defensive mix-up to round Blackmore and score.

Former table-proppers Newport have pulled 12 points clear of Fleet in 16th place, but Tate took no joy from his struggling opponents' plight - particularly his old buddy Adi Aymes.

The former Hampshire wicketkeeper, now co-manager of Fleet, was on Lymington's books back at the start of Tate's playing days with the New Forest club.

He said: "I remember as a 19-year-old being too embarrassed to go up and ask Adi if he could get me free tickets to watch Hampshire. He was one of the characters around when I first came into the game.

"Fleet couldn't have worked any harder for him and Mark Dennis on Saturday. They were a credit to their managers, but I always felt our class would come through."

Newport are looking to sign Isle of Wight lad Danny Hatcher, who is in the third year of a scholarship with Leyton Orient where he has made 22 first-team appearances.

A right-sided midfielder or frontrunner, he has had enough of living in London and wants to return to his Island roots.

Tate said: "As I've said before, Island-based players are more than welcome to try their luck with us. It's what the fans want and what the club wants too, but I'll only sign them if they're good enough."

Port will be speaking to Newport-born Hatcher - who turns 19 tomorrow - next Saturday with a view to tying up a deal.

Bashley's scheduled summit meeting with Banbury United was postponed on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch.