WINCHESTER City had lift-off in the Southern One South & West this evening with an impressive 4-2 home win over newly-promoted Salisbury.

Watched by a bumper crowd of 580 at the Denplan City Ground, City clocked their first competitive win under new manager Ian Saunders.

They came back from behind to do it after succumbing to an early goal from Salisbury’s on-loan Sutton United striker Tommy Wright – his second in as many games.

Ex-Eastleigh goalkeeper Lewis Noice played his part with a superb save for City before midfielder Jamie Barron equalised with a curling free kick that went in off the far post.

By half-time Winchester were 3-1 up as new signings Joe Briggs and Howard Neighbour, who both followed Saunders from Petersfield Town, weighed in with a goal apiece.

Star signing Justin Bennett gave Steve Claridge's Salisbury hope, pulling it back to 3-2 with a neat 54th-minute finish but, as the Whites went in search of an equaliser, Winchester struck again.

Ross Bottomley, on as a substitute, had the last word in the 87th minute, side-footing the ball home after enterprising work by Briggs.