SALISBURY'S run of four successive Premier clean sheets was ended with a disappointing 2-2 draw at struggling Cheshunt.

But the point still ensured City stretched their unbeaten league run to eight games, and are now two-thirds of the way towards meeting manager Nick Holmes' target.

"Hopefully it was just one of those games," rued the ex-Saints star.

"We are still unbeaten and I asked the lads last month to remain unbeaten until the end of the season.

"That would mean an unbeaten 12-match run - they've given me eight so far, although this was probably their worst performance.

"We are still going for the unbeaten finish and one thing is for sure - that kind of form early in the season would have seen us competing at the top of the league."

Holmes added: "The pitch was not as bad as Eastleigh's Paul Doswell made out to be - we've played on a lot worse this season.

"But the strong wind didn't help and made it into a battle.

"A few of our lads were off the pace. I was disappointed with the way we played but remember that Cheshunt were really up for it and this was one of their last chances to avoid relegation. Boy did they battle!"

An 18th-minute goal from Panayiottis Panayiotou shocked Salisbury into action and Tim Bond levelled two minutes later.

Shaun Hale's header should have added to the tally and Matt Tubbs was denied by keeper Russell Ling just before the break.

A defensive error let in Steve Obeng for the hosts' second, before Hale netted a 57th-minute equaliser that probably ensures City's survival - though that is not yet mathematically certain.

Holmes summed up: "We opened them up quite frequently with some decent passing in the first-half but couldn't keep it going in the second."