SALISBURY twice allowed the lead to slip from their grasp and had to be content with a 2-2 draw from their opening Hampshire League match against Winchester II, who had a player red carded late on, writes Mike Vimpany.

They began well dominating possession and creating chances, with new signing and man of the match Alfie Jones causing Winchester problems with his pace and skill.

Salisbury were rewarded when Hugo Lyons pounced on a save from a Rory McTaggart penalty drag flick to put the Bemerton side ahead.

But goalkeeper Tim Green rescued Salisbury before half-time when he saved a Richard Jones penalty flick.

Winchester weren't to be denied and equalised through Eric Woodward.

Both sides created chances in an even second half affair before Nick Easterbrook stole possession on the halfway and delivered a perfect ball through to a diving MacTaggart to deflect Salisbury back in front.

Woodward converted a stick tackle penalty flick, putting Winchester level with five minutes to play, but in the drying embers of the game Adam Major got himself into trouble with the umpires and picked up an untimely red card.

The short-lived numerical advantage, however, didn’t effect the outcome.

"Chances went missing and it was three points debatably missed, but with the attacking threat we possessed and the amount of chances created it looks very promising for the season," reflected new Salisbury skipper McTaggart.

It's not been a good start to the season for Salisbury's newly promoted ladies side who have lost all three West Women's League Premier Division 1 games.

A 2-1 defeat by Team Bath Buccaneers followed losses to Plymouth Marjon (4-2) and Bournemouth (4-3).

Meawhile, Henry Smith smacked a double for the fourths to secure an away win at Gosport 1898. Will Smith was also on target in the 1-3 victory, helping record the fourth’s best start in more than two years.

McTaggart’s Salisbury go to Weymouth on Saturday while the women are at home to Clifton seconds.