LOCKS HEATH were only days away from putting Steve Watt on contract after his sensational early-season goal-scoring exploits.

It's history now that Newport moved in and swept the high-scoring striker away to the promised land of the Dr Martens Southern League Eastern Division.

But after the man from Barrow-in-Furness had hoovered up a dozen goals in something like seven games, Locks were actively involved in trying to protect their interest.

Club secretary Pete Smith revealed: "We knew we'd be under pressure to keep Steve so we actually investigated what process we needed to go through to put him on contract.

"It was literally days before Newport moved in and signed him and I just wish we had sorted things out sooner."

Smith admits that Locks sorely miss the striker who turned up at the club out of the blue after a change of job had brought him south from Barrow.

"Steve liked what he saw, and we liked him. He clicked straight away but since he's gone we've slipped back a bit."

Watt still trains with Locks, who have suffered the double disappointment of losing the once prolific Neil Stocks with recurring injury problems.

Youngsters Mark Jones and Aiden Travaskis have been leading the line, but Locks manager Kev Parris has brought back old favourite Les Sharpe to try and help plug the gap left by Watt, who has not yet established himself in the first team at Newport.

Another key Locks player, midfielder Dave Hepple, has been hit by injury problems, explaining Locks low key performance in a recent Hampshire Senior Cup exit against Pirelli General.

But still fourth in the table, they hope they can stay in th e title hunt now they are back home. There's certainly a homely feel to the Locks defence with brothers Martin and Steve Ward lining up in key roles.

Martin has moved in from local Sunday football to play in goal.

Steve has been around longer than most in the middle of the defence.

They celebrated last Saturday's homecoming with a 3-1 win over Hythe & Dibden when young JOnes came off the bench for the second half and scored twice to help turn a one-goal deficit into a win which kept Locks in touch with the leaders.