STEVE Brougham wants to take away the fear factor as Newport IoW close in on 'the great escape.'

A week ago the Islanders were heading down a dark tunnel towards certain relegation to the Wessex League.

But a chink of light appeared with a 2-1 Easter Monday victory at Fleet Town and now there is real hope of salvation.

With two games to go, Port are five points adrift of their nearest rivals Banstead Athletic and Ashford Town, and, intriguingly, they travel to Banstead tomorrow.

And, while the Islanders are on the crest of wave following Dave Greening's two-goal heroics at Fleet, Banstead are in grave danger of folding and there is talk of tomorrow being their last ever home match.

Newport caretaker boss Brougham said: "If we win tomorrow then we'll go into the last game (home to Tooting & Mitcham) on Saturday week with a chance of staying up.

"We went to Fleet on Monday knowing that if we didn't win we were down and it's the same tomorrow and what I'm trying to do is get them to play without fear.

"Because of our position, we've played with fear for most of the season, but I've told the players to go out and express themselves and replace that fear with hunger, spirit and determination.

"For the last two games we've done that. There's been a spirit among them and they've all been working for each other. Jon Holmes was immense at the back on Monday and Nathan Bett had his most disciplined game of the season."