Craig Davis says he has not joined Salisbury City to jump on the FA Cup bandwagon.

Incredibly, the 22-year-old midfielder from West End, Southampton, could make his debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough this Sunday (2pm) after completing a £15,000 move from Bashley on Friday night.

But the former Bash skipper, whose signing was completed just before the deadline for the first round proper, insisted: "Although it would be nice to play at Sheffield Wednesday, it's not the reason I've signed for Salisbury.

"I was looking for a new challenge and I can't wait to start work with Nick Holmes and Tommy Killick.

"I spoke to a few people about leaving Bashley and they all thought it was the right thing to do."

Having started out in Bashley's youth team as a 15-year-old, Davis returned to the New Forest club four seasons ago after serving his apprenticeship at Cardiff City.

The free-scoring midfielder topped the club's goal charts last season and took over the captaincy when Darren Robson was injured towards the end of the campaign, leading the side out in the Hampshire Senior Cup final at St Mary's.

He was so well thought of at Bashley Road that he was employed there full-time as youth development officer.

Davis said: "I totally enjoyed myself at Bashley. There are some really nice people there and I will be particularly sorry to leave secretary Pete Plowman and the new manager, John Robson.

"I'd been at Bashley a long time and I wish them all the best. I'm sure John is going to do well for the club and I hope they get promoted this season along with Salisbury. It would be nice for the area if both of us could go up."

Davis is cup-tied for Salisbury's Dr Martens League Cup trip to Newport IoW tomorrow night (7.45).

Newport go into tomorrow's game riding high in sixth place in the DML Eastern Division table.

The only thing that bothered Island boss Steve Tate after Saturday's 2-0 victory at Hastings United was why his players needed a half-time slating to produce their best.

After a dreadful first-half showing, the Islanders took the lead two minutes after the restart when Ashley Wright latched onto Glenn Howes's throughball and fired home with his left foot.

And 20 minutes later, Danny Hatcher - reverted to a striker's role from wing-back - got on the end of Jamie O'Rourke's cross.

Tate said: "It was a tremendous result and in the second half we'd have beaten anyone. But why on earth it takes me to shout my head off to get the best out of these players is beyond me.

"The one person who wins in all this is my wife. I use up so much energy shouting at the players that I'm drained when I get home and she thinks I'm the nicest guy in the world! But I'll carry on shouting if it makes my team play like that."