Bashley are unlikely to lay their hands on the FA Umbro Trophy this season, but Saturday's 1-0 first-round result over Salisbury suggests their main goal of Premier Division football may not be beyond them.

For three of the last four seasons, the Foresters have got the better of Geoff Butler's Premier thoroughbreds in cup competition and there is growing optimism that born-again Bash - currently fifth in the Eastern Division - could soon be lording it back among the Dr Martens elite.

It took an 86th-minute wonder strike from Graeme Gee to settle a tight, tetchy tie, but there was no denying that Bash were good value for their win.

Salisbury lacked their normal attacking flair on a heavy Recreation Ground surface and Bash boss Barry Blankley said: "It helped that we were on our own pitch, but we've shown today that we are not far away from some of the teams in the Premier Division."

For Whites boss Geoff Butler, it was yet another slap in the face from a team capable of so much better.

True, Whites had a Paul Sales shot cleared off the line by Craig Davis just ten minutes before Gee turned and drilled in a 30-yard cracker, but the underdogs carried more bite.

Butler conceded: "Full marks to Bashley, they had a right go. I knew they were big and strong at the back and we just weren't good enough to break them down.

"We only raised our game when we fell behind and that shows gross lack of character."

Bashley's reward is a December 2 home tie against St Albans City who disposed of Chelmsford 2-0 yesterday.

Captain Gary MacDonald led by example as Havant & Waterlooville came from behind to book an appetising second round date at Hampshire rivals Aldershot Town.

The former Pompey apprentice laid on one goal and scored the other as H&W finally squeezed home 2-1 against a battling ten-man Croydon side.

The Surrey visitors had taken a 17th minute lead following a howler by keeper Paul Nicholls which presented Nic McDonnell with a simple tap-in.

Step forward MacDonald whose left-wing cross on 33 minutes was touched home by Dave Wakefield who, minutes later, was stretchered off following a late challenge by Chris Currie.

The turning point came on 65 minutes when Croydon's central midfielder Ali Reeve was sent off after squaring up to referee Andy Legg who was originally only going to book him for his foul on Matt Jones.

Numerical advantage took just six minutes to take its toll as Gary Connolly swung in a right-wing delivery for MacDonald to steer a well-placed looping header beyond the Croydon keeper.

Weather permitting, H&W travel to Gloucester City tonight (7.45pm) for their FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay. Dave Wakefield is almost certainly ruled out after being stretchered off with an ankle injury on Saturday.

Newport's backlog of league fixtures is set to lengthen following a 2-2 home draw against Ryman Premier high-fliers Hitchin Town.

Tony Mount's men, who have already lost three Eastern Division games to a waterlogged Island pitch, must travel for a replay in Hertfordshire tomorrow instead of hosting their delayed Hampshire Senior Cup tie against Aldershot.

Having taken a first-half lead through Danny Gibbons, Newport fell behind to an Adam Parker double - the first an inspired individual effort and the second an 83rd-minute header from a corner.

The Islanders equalised two minutes from time when a Steve Moss corner was dropped by the keeper amid a goalmouth scramble and Steve Tate touched the ball on for Steve Riley to smash home.

"It was a cracking cup tie and a fair result against the best side we've played this year," reflected manager Tony Mount. "The replay is a trip we can do without - but that's football."

Tomorrow's winners play Weymouth away in round two.

Basingstoke dipped out 2-1 at Harlow having conceded two early goals for a second week running.

John Coley and Jon Hooker dealt the double blow inside 18 minutes and, although Sean Gorman pulled one back from the penalty spot after Tim Sills had been impeded, Stoke lacked the imagination and flair to do further damage in the second half.