SALISBURY powered up to fourth in the Evo-Stik South West with a thumping 8-0 win at Shortwood United.

Marvin Brooks sent out a message by plundering a hat-trick in the build-up to next Saturday’s big FA Cup second qualifying round clash against his former club Poole Town.

Brooks headed against the crossbar with just seconds gone, but it was Lewis Benson who opened the scoring four minutes in when a cross by Flavio Tavares cannoned off him via a defender.

Sam Roberts took aim from 25 yards to make it 2-0 and Brooks doubled that lead with a clever lob followed by a fine far-post header.

Tom Whelan got in on the act early in the second half with a low strike before Brooks completed his hat-trick with a spectacular bicycle kick from sub Kane O'Keefe's cross.

O’Keefe turned from provider to scorer with a firm header before, in added time, Benson’s cross was turned home by a defender Sam Ockwell under pressure from Stuart Green.

*Third-to-bottom Poole Town’s National League South woes continued with a 2-0 defeat at Welling United, sunk by second-half goals from Colchester loanee Elijah Phipps and Joe Healy.

No such problems for Havant & Waterlooville who rose to second with a 1-0 win at Gloucester City – Portsmouth loanee Theo Widdrington bagging the 73rd-minute winner.

*The statistics make depressing reading for Gosport Borough.

Alex Pike’s young side are nailed to the foot of the Evo-Stik South Premier without a point from six matches, having conceded 22 goals and scored just three.

Borough were not without chances at Biggleswade Town on Saturday but, despite a bright first-half performance, they were on the end of a 2-0 defeat.

Former Team Solent striker Tyrell Mitford went close to scoring for Gosport on 18 minutes, but Biggleswade goalkeeper Liam Gooch pushed his shot onto the post and out for a corner from which Ousman Saidy headed over.

They fell behind to a Craig Daniel free-kick on 44 minutes and it stayed that way until the last knockings when Lucas Perry doubled the Waders' lead.

Ex-Gosport and Eastleigh striker Ben Wright was on the scoresheet once again as Basingstoke Town registered their third straight victory, 3-2 at home to St Ives Town. It hoisted the north Hampshire club to 11th.