MAX Grossmith celebrated a maiden hat-trick as Salisbury shattered Bournemouth’s unbeaten Hampshire League streak with a 4-2 victory at Chapel Gate, writes Mike Vimpany.

It was Salisbury’s second consecutive win and lifted them into third place in the table, two points behind Andover, the only team to have won all three matches.

Boosted by the return of Mark Dunn, Tom Morton and Dave Pipe, Salisbury applied the early pressure and were rewarded when Grossmith converted a Rory MacTaggart short corner to give the visitors the lead inside the opening ten minutes.

The former Loughborough Students player doubled his and Salisbury’s tally before Bournemouth, playing their part in a high tempo, fully blooded game, clawed a goal back.

MacTaggart’s fifth goal in three games – the Salisbury captain tucked home a rebound after his own drag flick had been saved – restored the visitors’ two-goal lead.

But Bournemouth were not out of the reckoning and cut Salisbury’s lead from a penalty corner to make it 3-2 by the break.

Bournemouth were reduced to nine men at one stage, but Salisbury spurned several chances to make the game safe, James Hayward – playing his first game of the campaign – missing one prime opportunity.

Grossmith ended Salisbury’s profligacy with his hat-trick goal to make it 4- 2.

But before the final whistle, MacTaggart himself fluffed a penalty stroke after being outwitted by the Bournemouth goalkeeper.

EDWARD Wade was on target for Salisbury boys under 12s (team 1) who drew at home to Bournemouth 1-1.

Wade struck the opener before sloppy marking allowed the visiting team to equalise.

The same age group’s second team put in a battling performance despite a 2-0 defeat to Basingstoke.