NICK Holmes' ten-year plan to turn Salisbury City into a Football League club is now ahead of schedule after his side secured promotion from the Conference South with a 1-0 win against Braintree Town on Sunday.

Whites, who finished second in the league in their first season in the Conference South, triumphed courtesy of Matt Tubbs' 84th minute goal, prompting ecstatic scenes at Stevenage Borough's Broadhall Way ground - the setting for the play-off final.

But Holmes accepts his side rode their luck at times, and that the tie between the sides with the meanest defences in the division could well have gone either way.

"Ironically we probably had a little bit of luck today in the second half when they hit the post and things could have gone against us.

"It worked for us and I didn't think it had for some time, so we deserved a little bit of fortune."

Holmes was full of praise for top goalscorer Tubbs, whose 30th of the campaign following great work by Luke Prince, ensured 30 minutes extra time and possibly penalties were not required.

"It's as good a move as there was in the game.

"By them putting pressure on us, they fancied they could score and for the first time in four hours of football with them they left themselves open and we do have the people to take advantage of them.

"Poor old Luke probably didn't have the best of games but I'll tell you what, as soon as he had a chance to open his legs up on a break, then there's not many better than him and he put in a quality ball for Tubbsy to finish.

"What more do we need?"

Holmes also singled out goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, who made a crucial save to keep City in contention in the match which was televised live on Setanta TV, but insisted promotion had been achieved through a remarkable team spirit and superb work ethic.

"Clarkey had to make a couple of saves. He was on telly so he made one of them look a little bit better than it was!"

"But everyone's worked so hard. A lot of those boys out there had played more than 50 competitive games and they've done the business.

"They've answered all the questions that I've fired at them, or that Tom (Widdrington) and Barry (Blankley) have fired at them and they've earned their moment.

"I know they've all enjoyed it immensely."

As his players returned to the pitch to receive their medals, Holmes was happy to leave them to the limelight, and instead headed off in search of a cup of tea."

Asked what it meant to him personally, to steer a club that was on the brink of going out of business just five summers ago to within 42 games of joining the Football League, he said: "You know me. I like winning.

"I just like winning very quietly, that's all - I don't need all the fuss.

"I can go home and have a glass of red wine and say 'right, you've done what you wanted to do and, to be honest, we've done it a little bit earlier than I wanted.

"I think it makes next season likely to be doubly hard, but that's what we're here for."

Holmes admitted he is not a fan of the play-off system, and believes any side finishing second in the table should be automatically promoted.

However, justice was eventually done with the Whites joining champions Histon in next season's Blue Square Premier.

Holmes does accept that the play-offs generate much excitement and that the weekend had been a special one for the players and management team who had stayed at a hotel near the Stevenage ground overnight on Saturday to avoid travelling on the day of the match.

"Everything about it was great because we won.

"We've had some laughs all weekend. They're a good bunch of lads and they've deserved it.

"Every training session they've turned up with no excuses. They're always there and prepared to get on with it.

"Because they've got that in their locker, when they turn up for games, it makes things that much easier."

Holmes also paid tribute to City's 12th man - the black and white army.

Hundreds of supporters had made the trip to Hertfordshire and made up almost two-thirds of the 3,167 attendance.

As well as cheering their side onto victory - they sportingly gave the Braintree team a rapturous reception as they received their runners-up medals.

"The noise the crowd gave us was very very good. It was nice that we scored in front of our own fans so that they could celebrate with us.

"It was good fun.

"Losers aren't remembered, whereas winners are for a good space of time and that's just the way it goes.

"We've got lads with us that are winners and that's what we've got to carry on. That's the important thing."