STRIKER Justin Bennett says his recent goal spree is the best way to silence his age critics.

The 34-year-old was slammed in the wake of Salisbury’s 3-1 Southern League Division One South and West defeat at Taunton nearly a fortnight ago.

On the Salisbury FC Supporters group on Facebook, Chris Grinter posted the following among a post-match debate with fellow fans: “I’m sure he’ll [Justin] come good when they oil the Zimmer frame. Know you have to trust the manager but thought it was strange to lose Wilson and bag him. Proven at this level or not. I know Wilson got found out against Hereford but he is still learning.”

Since then, Bennett has fired five goals in as many days.

He netted a brace in Whites’ 4-1 thumping of Bishops Cleeve in which he did a ‘Zimmerman’ celebration.

And on Saturday he bagged a ‘perfect’ hat-trick in his side’s 5-0 FA Cup preliminary round thrashing of Bitton AFC.

“They [fans] pay their money and if they don’t like what they see then they can vent their frustrations,” said Bennett, who signed from Gosport Borough, where he is the club’s all-time record scorer.

“On Facebook, one of the fans, after the Taunton game, said something about oiling up a Zimmer frame.

“Obviously, I saw it and responded and had it in my head if I scored against Bishops Cleeve I was going to do something about the Zimmer frame but it was all in jest.

“What wound me up about it was not that it was personal at me, as I’ve played football a long time and I’ve had stuff like that before and I can take it, but there are young lads here who maybe can’t.

“If they are going on and seeing criticism, it may affect how they play in future and affect the team as a whole.

“That was kind of why I responded to it.

“I don’t mind it, they pay their money and they can say what they want.

“If they are going to make comments like that then the best thing to do is go out on the pitch and prove them wrong.

“I’m not quite needing a Zimmer frame yet,” he laughed.

Salisbury-living Bennett, who Steve Claridge has started in all five games, says Grinter has since apologised.

He added: “We’re friends on Facebook now and have had a little laugh about it but I don’t take it too seriously.”

Whites host Mangotsfield United on Saturday and travel to AFC Totton on Bank Holiday Monday. Both are 3pm kick offs.