JAMES Hayward lifted himself off the treatment table to score a hat-trick and set up Salisbury’s thumping 5-1 win over fourth placed Hampshire/Surrey Regional League, Division 2 rivals Old Kingstonian.

The result maintained Salisbury’s enigmatic home and away form of winning at Bemerton, having lost every time on their travels - and underlined the key role the South Wilts cricket captain plays in the team.

Hayward had been side-lined for two weeks with an intercostal muscle injury but, despite being only half fit, took the field and bagged a threesome.

“James was told his normal work rate wasn’t that important, but sticking the ball in the net was,” skipper Tom Morton said.

The four wins puts Salisbury in fifth spot, some way behind runaway pair Trojans and Winchester, who go toe-to-toe at Stoneham Lane on Saturday.

OKs applied the early pressure at Bemerton but squandered the penalty corners they forced, either through mistakes or saves by Tim Green.

Salisbury showed how it should be done, with Chris Warde converting the first set-piece move the city club created.

The goal breathed confidence into Salisbury’s ranks and soon after Mark Dunn doubled the lead to give the hosts a 2-0 half-time lead.

Old Kingstonian responded at the start of the second period, but it was Salisbury who stretched their lead – man-of-the-match Morton weaving past several challenges before picking out Hayward for a simple far post tap-in.

Salisbury’s fourth goal was a carbon copy move – Morton winning a tackle and Hayward deflecting the ball past the OK’s keeper.

The Surrey visitors clawed one back and, with Rob Selbie yellow carded, posed a problem or two. But Salisbury were still creating chances and in the closing stages Mark Dunn won a penalty stroke, which Hayward gleefully converted to give the city side a 5-1 win.

Salisbury could be boosted in the New Year by the arrival of a new Zimbabwean teenage striker, who is coming to work in the city just after Christmas.

“I’m hoping to meet him soon after he arrives in the country and, if possible, get him introduced to the hockey club,” Morton said.

“Coming to the UK in January could be a culture shock for him ...”

Fordingbridge   0:3  Salisbury 4’s

Salisbury were without a number of players this week due to injury and school rugby, however the team pulled out a lot of stops and managed a excellent result away to their local rivals. With other results going their way Salisbury are up to 4th place in Open League 9, for this week at least, as they play league leaders Isle of Wight 2’s next Saturday.

Drafted into the side were Ian Draper, Jon Craig and Bede Rauh and all added considerably to the away sides form. Salisbury started brightly and in the first 10 minutes were 1:0 up following a pin point cross from the right for Craig to finish easily. Peter Barrett had another opportunity which went just passed the post and more attempts at goal were thwarted by a resolute Fordingbridge defence. It was not all one way traffic though and Fordinbridge created pressure of their own but Salisbury’s defence was firm with Matt Salmon in goal performing at the same high level as in previous weeks. The second Salisbury goal came from a Garrett pass into the “D”. Rauh pressurised the defender and goalkeeper and the ball looped into the net. An own goal? claimed by Bede Rauh!

Salisbury’s second half was not quite so strong but Jon Craig moved to defence as Salisbury changed umpires at half time. The mid-field worked hard and Peter Barrett, his father Alastair, Dan Hawksworth and Draper maintained a good deal of control to limit the home side to a few chances. Towards the end of the game a ball from mid-field found Andy Scrase who passed to Garrett, releasing the ball quickly to Rauh on the left of the “D” who confidently swept the ball into the goal to complete a good afternoons sport.

Team: A Salmon, A Barrett, N Twentyman (Captain), Jon Craig, A Manders/A Scase (half play;half umpire), Ben Coleman, Ian Draper, P Barrett, M Scrase, D Hawksworth, B Rauh, A Garrett

MoM; Peter Barrett

Salisbury Ladies are back at the top of the West Women's League Premier Division 2A after back-to-back wins over Gloucester and Swindon.

They share the 15-point mark with Hereford, but have a superior goal difference to the Bulls.

Salisbury beat Gloucester 3-0, but ran in five goals past Swindon to put themselves in a confident mood for Saturday's visit to lowly Cirencester.

Salisbury dominated Swindon from the outset but had to be patient as it took a while before the inspirational Jenna Tait broke the deadlock with a rasping strike.

They doubled the score with a Sarah Dunne penalty corner before two goals in quick succession by Sonia Ribeiro put the game beyond Swindon's reach.

Tait grabbed her second of the game - a mirror strike of her first half goal - before Swindon scored a consolation goal in the dying minutes.