SOUTHAMPTON-based sharpshooter Paul Sales bids to maintain his remarkable goal-a-game record for Bashley at Spalding tomorrow.

The 28-year-old has come back from injury with all guns blazing, scoring in all four appearances since returning from a groin operation that kept him out since the second game of the season.

He netted one and made one in Tuesday's 2-1 Hampshire Senior Cup win at Fleet - his first full 90-minute run-out - and manager Barry Blankley laughed: "The only game he hasn't scored in so far was playing for the reserves at Portsmouth RN last Saturday!

"Everyone knows Paul's a gifted player, but this is more than I could have expected and probably more than even he thought he could do. It's a huge bonus for us as I never expected to have him back so soon - I hadn't included him in my plans until the New Year."

Bash, who were without a game last Saturday, are fourth in the Eastern Division just three points adrift of league leaders Salisbury.

Midfielder/defender Mat Jones, who missed the Chippenham and Fleet games with back trouble, re-joins an otherwise unchanged squad.

Player-manager Steve Tate is the only injured party in the Newport IoW camp for their trip to form side King's Lynn.

The Linnets' 5-1 romp at Fleet last week was their fifth straight win and, although Newport have won four of their last five league and cup games, Tate knows tomorrow will be the ultimate test for his third-to-bottom troops.

He said: "Looking at King's Lynn's results, they're obviously a really good side and I'll be looking to see how far my team has come."

Meanwhile, there's been a significant twist to developments off the pitch with news that fans are trying to buy the crisis-hit club.

The Newport Supporters' Trust have lodged a bid - believed to be around £1 million - with the receiv-ers, but are remaining tight-lipped about the source of their funding.

The fans' bid came shortly before the Isle of Wight council agreed to stump up £675,000 for the club's training pitch and, as a mark of their intentions, the council have already paid £5,000 to secure an option on the site.

If the training pitch were sold, it would give chairman and majority shareholder Bill Manuel the financial wherewithal to stay at the helm of the club, but fans are not convinced it will be the answer to securing Newport's long-term future.

Norman Arnold, acting chairman of the Supporters' Trust, said: "Our offer is substantially more than the council's. We are now waiting to hear what the receivers have got to say. To be honest, we don't care what happens with the training pitch. It is secondary to our concerns."

While talks go on, the receivers have secured the club's trading position for another week.

Edward Head of BDO Stoy Hay-ward Southampton confirmed: "We hope to be in a position to make a further statement concerning the club's future at the end of next week."

Nick Holmes admits he's pleased with his table-topping Salisbury City side - even though he criticised them after last Saturday's 5-2 win over Burnham.

It all came out right in the end, but the ex-Saint was concerned when City allowed Burnham back from 4-0 to 4-2.

He said: "I did praise the players afterwards, but they needed a reminder that they've got to be a bit more ruthless and iron out the little things that creep into our game when we're on top."

Salisbury have been helped by the fact that they have played twice as many home games as they have away. The balance is about to be redressed with tomorrow's trip to Corby followed by away tests at Eastbourne and Fisher. "If we get through those and we're still top, then that will be an achievement," said Holmes.

Josh Thomas is suspended tom-orrow and Darren Crook has knee trouble. On the plus side, Gary Funnell returns from the sin bin.

Fleet Town have brought back a familiar face to help drag them out of the Eastern Division relegation mire. Gary Stockwell, who captained the club to promotion from the Wessex League last term, has re-signed for the Calthorpe Park outfit from AFC Newbury.

The 32-year-old has had a long spell out with a groin injury and is unlikely to feature at Histon tomorrow because of lack of match practice. But secretary John Goodyear said: "It's good to have him back. He's a real battler and a wise, old head to have in the middle of the park or in defence."

Fleet have their fingers crossed that Ryan Luffman will join them on their travels to Cambridge-shire. The former Wimbledon striker is still undecided about whether to play for Town or Ryman League outfit Carshalton.

Havant & Waterlooville begin a pre-Christmas run against bottom-six sides at basement boys Ilkeston Town tomorrow.

Scraps against Moor Green and Folkestone Invicta follow, giving the 18th-placed Hawks the perfect opportunity to start climbing the Premier Division table.

Gareth Hall (calf) and Neil Champion (stomach strain) both came out the worse for wear from the midweek Trophy win at Billericay, but Armyman Shaun Hale returns to the squad from Combined Services duty.