SALISBURY’S Southern One South & West play-off ambitions remain on track after a gutsy 4-1 win at Barnstaple Town.

The Whites stay fourth in the table thanks to a result rated by manager Steve Claridge as “probably our most important of the season so far.”

Making light of the bad weather and difficult, heavy pitch, Salisbury took an 11th-minute lead with a glancing header by George Colson from Lewis Benson’s corner.

Salisbury's second, on 53 minutes, was curled in by Justin Bennett, but much credit goes to his strike partner Tommy Wright who defied the conditions to embark on mazy run before delivering a pinpoint pass.

Bennett soon had another and Craig Allan’s own goal made it 4-0 to the Whites before sub Niall Heeney pulled one back for the Devon hosts.

"That was probably the most important result of the season so far and I would go as far as to say the best performance, bearing in mind the weather, the pitch and the fact that we knew what we were going to be up against and dealt with it," said Claridge.

Salisbury take a break from league action to face Highworth Town in the Wiltshire Senior Cup semi-final at Melksham’s new Oakfield Stadium on Wednesday (7.45pm).

*AFC Totton’s scheduled trip to Slimbridge fell foul of a waterlogged pitch.

With Yate beating Bishop’s Cleeve 2-1, Louis Langdown’s Stags have slipped back to 20th, but are a comfortable 14 points clear of the drop zone.

Weather permitting, the Stags will pay a league visit to Bridgwater Town this Saturday (March 11).