ALRESFORD TN 1, SALISBURY 4

SALISBURY went top of the Sydenhams League (Wessex) Premier table with this win in midweek.

Whites boss Steve Claridge rested most of the squad that had played in the previous Saturday’s FA Vase semi-final, when they lost 2-1 to Hereford, but his team still had enough quality to beat Alresford who were down to the bare bones.

With only six minutes gone, the towering Jack Vallis headed a free-kick past John Howard in the home goal. Later in the half, Vallis was carried off following an innocent-looking tangle of legs with Rian Jima-Otero.

Alresford defender Carl Steadman doubled the visitors’ lead with an unlucky own goal, but just before half-time Oliver Yates pulled one back for the Magpies.

The game had been spiced up by a running battle in midfield, but that ended on 69 minutes with a second yellow card for Alresford’s Brian Howard.

Soon after, Ashley Jarvis converted a penalty after a foul by Dan Molyneaux and Sam Roberts added Salisbury’s fourth with a shot from a tight angle.