TOMMY Widdrington says it's a sign of the increased expectation levels at Salisbury City that defeat at home to rock-bottom Northwich Victoria tomorrow is beyond contemplation for many of their fans.

It was only four seasons ago that the Whites were plying their trade in the Southern League Eastern Division.

Yet they have settled into the Blue Square Premier so impressively that anything less than a win tomorrow would be perceived as failure by some.

"It's strange how people's expectations change," reflected player-coach Widdrington. "At the beginning of the season, most fans would have been delighted to win any game in this league, but suddenly we were expected to beat Stafford Rangers on Tuesday, which we did, and then you get people saying it was only' 1-0!

"Now this weekend we've got a side coming to us in a similar situation to Stafford - and again we're expected to beat them.

"It's quite remarkable to think that we only started to rub shoulders with the big boys in this league five weeks ago, but the expectation levels are already so high.

"But I'm taking nothing for granted tomorrow. Northwich will come here determined to get their first win under their belt".

The Stafford result hoisted Salisbury up to sixth - pleasant viewing for ex-Saints midfielder Widdrington on his first glimpse of the league table.

The ex-Saint never looks at the table until after the first ten games.

Marvin Brown, the match-winner against Stafford, has now scored three times in as many games, justifying the management's decision to rest perennial top scorer Matt Tubbs.

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