WINCHESTER City boss Ian Saunders cited a blinding save by ex-Eastleigh goalkeeper Lewis Noice as the turning point of last night's excellent 4-2 win over Salisbury.

With Steve Claridge’s Whites leading by an early Tommy Wright goal, it could have been curtains for City when Justin Bennett cushioned a header into the path of on-loan Sutton forward Wright whose left-footed strike looked destined to make it 2-0.

But Noice, released by the Spitfires in May, pulled off an inspired save, pushing the ball onto the bar and over.

With that scare behind them, Winchester roared on to lead 3-1 at half-time through Jamie Barron, Joe Briggs and Howard Neighbour.

Bennett pulled one back before Briggs set up substitute Ross Bottomley to side-foot home City’s fourth.

Praising Noice's heroics, Saunders said: “Maybe if we’d gone 2-0 down, it might have been a bit too steep to come back from, but the goalkeeper did really well to push a long-range shot onto the bar.”

Noice, who made six National League appearances for Eastleigh last season as understudy to Ross Flitney, was rumoured to have been on Salisbury's hit-list during the summer.

“I’d imagine most local players are on Salisbury’s hit-list,” smiled Saunders. “They’re a great club with a great stadium and a huge following – but they can’t have everyone, thankfully, and I’m very glad our club managed to get Lewis.

"He’s still young with his best years ahead of him, but he showed he’s a great shot-stopper.”

Last night's triumph was a real tonic for Winchester, soothing the pain of a 5-3 opening day defeat at Slimbridge in the Southern One South & West.

Midfielder Jamie Barron was sent off that day, along with Slimbridge’s Dean Turner, and now sits out a three-match ban, starting at home to Mangotsfield United on Saturday.

“I thought the double sending-off was harsh all round,” reflected Saunders. "Their lad grabbed Jamie by the throat and he batted the guy’s hands away. Maybe a more experienced referee would have given them a ticking off and a yellow card and allowed them to carry on.

“It means Jamie misses out for the next three games, which is a shame. He and Jamie Brown were excellent against Salisbury.”

City, though, do have the consolation of welcoming midfielder Stuart Green back from holiday.

Striker Sam Wilson returned to the bench against his old team Salisbury, but is still feeling an ankle injury, while Matt Benham faces a further six to eight weeks out with a leg problem carried over from last season.

Defender Jamie Thoroughgood remains with the club but Saunders said: “He works as a doctor in Croydon and is finding the travelling a bit more challenging.”