LEADING scorer Justin Bennett struck his 23rd league goal as Salisbury picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win at Didcot Town.

The striker nodded home a first half winner to move Whites up to fourth in Southern League Division One South and West.

On a clear wintery day in Oxfordshire, Didcot had the opening chance as stopper Alex Bass parried away Louis Joyce’s effort.

At the other end, Tommy Wright’s backheel was palmed over the bar, before George Colson’s powerful header narrowly went over.

The game struggled for tempo, until Brandon Mundy, on his return from injury, carved through the Didcot defence and floated a cross into the box where the unmarked Bennett had an easy header to open the scoring on 35 minutes. The marksman has now scored in each of the last six games.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first, with Salisbury having the best of the chances; Wright volleying Colson’s precise cross narrowly past the post.

Both teams struggled to stamp their authority until Didcot substitute Ricardo Andrady’s electric pace sparked the home side into life.

The winger tested Salisbury’s defence and created several chances, with the best of the efforts seeing a Sam Barder strike stopped by Bass.

The Whites were caught on the counter on several occasions, and had their keeper to thank once again as he palmed a testing strike past the post.

Substitute George Jeacock then had Didcot’s best chance of the game, sending a bullet header painfully over the bar.

But just ten minutes after coming on, Jeacock was given his marching orders after a late challenge on Sam Roberts.

And things got worse for the hosts as deep into stoppage time home keeper Leigh Bedwell was then sent off for dissent as Didcot finished the game with nine men.

Whites, who have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games, moved above Swindon Supermarine, who dropped to fifth after losing 4-2 at home to Bishops Cleeve.

WHITES host Shortwood United in the third round of the Southern League Cup on Tuesday night (7.45pm)

The game was switched venues to the Ray Mac after the match was postponed four weeks in a row at Meadowbank.