NICK Holmes handed over a cheque for £900 to the organisation attempting to keep New Year's Day visitors Newport IoW in business, but his side were less generous when it came to the matter of three points.

A goal either side of the interval by Craig Davies and Scott Bartlett ensured Salisbury bagged three more points in their bid to secure promotion.

A crowd of 701 - City's highest league attendance so far this season - witnessed a hard-earned victory against a battling Newport side.

Apart from the suspended Matt Tubbs, Holmes kept faith with the side that had won at Bashley on Boxing Day.

Steve Strong had the ball in the net on nine minutes but his effort was disallowed for offside.

Wayne Turk, booked just moments earlier, then saw his effort deflected wide following Strong's cross.

Craig Davis finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time after good work by Wallace and Stuart James.

It was pretty much one-way traffic again after the interval.

Josh Thomas could have doubled the lead, but he failed to hit the target with a header from James' corner.

Newport custodian Joe McCormack thwarted Wallace, but City's faithful did not have long to wait for their side's second.

Wallace let in the over-lapping Scott Bartlett on the hour and the skipper made no mistake for his fifth goal in more than 160 appearances.

Presenting SNAG (Save Newport Action Group) with the £900 - raised by a contribution by the club, plus the proceeds of a bucket collection at the ground, Holmes said: "Salisbury were in a similar position to Newport some two years back, and we know exactly how it feels.

"We hope that this gesture by the club and its fans will help in some way to ensure their survival."