SALISBURY City boss Darrell Clarke engineered another tale twisting finale at the Ray Mac, on the eve of renewing his contract.

The 35-year-old mastered a 4-3 win against relegation-strugglers Truro City on Tuesday night, after completing a deal which will see him stay at the club until the summer of 2015. “I’m pleased to have got my future sorted,” he said.

“It’s been a fantastic two and a half years and the board has always backed me. I’m just delighted that I can stay at Old Sarum.”

During a frantic evening, on arguably the coldest night of the year, two goals from Chris McPhee got the hosts off to a flying start.

But Barry Hayles haunted the club which tried to sign him last summer, by polishing up on Mark Scott’s calamitous error.

Kieffer Moore completed the Cornish comeback a minute after the break. Despite Theo Lewis’ third being cancelled out by Martin Watts, a disappointing point looked to be.

Until a first-class strike from Jamie White ruled out City’s woe and instead, sent a huge roar of relief around the stadium, which Clarke’s drastic celebration entirely reflected.

He added: “I can’t explain to you the emotion I was going under. But the boys just kept going, and I’ve got such belief in them and I still thought we could get the three points at the end, albeit. “I’m passionate and it means everything to me to win football matches. There were just so many emotions I was experiencing and it was quite frightening to watch. Some of our forward play was excellent and our defending at times was comical.”

“But you can’t knock my players for the character they showed, they never stopped working and it would have been disappointing not to have won, and White provides an excellent winner. The team togetherness and spirit got us the three points.

“Again, we chucked away a two goal lead at home, which is disappointing, and we’ve got to be tighter and more ruthless in defence and not give any goals away.”

The Whites host a Staines Town side on Saturday (3pm), who have won just one game from their previous ten.

Clarke said: “Staines have been a hit and miss side, but they’ve still got some quality that can hurt you. They’ll punish us on the day if we don’t defend or play properly.”