WINCHESTER City were swept away in a whirlwind of three Salisbury goals in the opening 23 minutes of a quickfire 3-1 defeat at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium last night.

Justin Bennett took less than two minutes to head the Whites in front and Tommy Wright added a second 14 minutes later.

Bennett's goal marked a significant moment for the former Gosport striker as he took his goal tally to 41 in all competitions to become the re-formed club’s all-time record scorer.

When Eddie Perrett made it 3-0 from Tom Whelan’s cross, it looked like City were in for a hiding in front of a 599 Old Sarum crowd.

But ex-Salisbury marksman Sam Wilson, who had previously worn Whites' record scorer's crown, pulled one back for the Citizens following a swift 34th-minute breakaway involving Stuart Green and Craig Feeney.

Eleven minutes after the break Bennett left the field clutching a hamstring. His replacement, Taurean Roberts, nearly conjured up two good chances, but couldn’t beat Lewis Noice in the City goal.

It was in-form Salisbury’s 15th win from 16 league outings, taking them to within a point of third-placed Tiverton Town in the Southern One South & West.

AFC Totton remain 18th after a 2-2 draw at Paulton Rovers.

Looking to build on three straight league wins, the Stags twice took the lead through Dave Allen, from a Charlie Gunson corner, and Alfy Whittingham's determined finish in the 14th and 59th minutes.

But they were quickly pegged back on each occasion by Elliott Gibbon and Jordan Ricketts.

Nathaniel Sherborne might have won it late on for Totton, but shot wide.

Moneyfields moved seven points clear of chasing Blackfield & Langley at the Sydenhams Premier summit with a slender 1-0 win at Sholing.

A hotly-disputed 54th-minute penalty, awarded for a trip on Dan Woodward and converted by Steve Hutchings, settled the issue.

The closest the Boatmen came to levelling was a Byron Mason header superbly tipped over by Moneys' former AFC Totton goalkeeper Steve Mowthorpe.

Sholing boss Dave Diaper reflected: "I thought Moneyfields were street-wise and once they took the lead, albeit for a penalty that should never have been given, they repeatedly disrupted the flow of the game with their gamesmanship and took advantage of the referee who let the control of the game slip away for him.

"For our part, missed chances have cost us again and also Mowey in goal played his part in making a game- changing save from Byron's header."

Sydenhams Wessex League results -Premier Division: Andover Town 3 Fareham Town 5, Bemerton Heath 4 Verwood Town 0, Brockenhurst 2 Team Solent 0, Lymington Town 1 Cowes Sports 2, Sholing 0 Moneyfields 1.

Division One: AFC Stoneham 0 New Milton 3, Hamble Club 3 Shaftesbury 3, Pewsey Vale 2 Ringwood 3, Romsey Town 4 Laverstock & Ford 1, Tadley Calleva 0 Baffins Milton Rovers 1, US Portsmouth 4 Folland Sports 0.