SALISBURY City boss Nick Holmes was delighted with his side after they secured their first away win of the season.

Whites comfortably defeated Forest Green Rovers 3-0 in front of the Setanta TV cameras courtesy of a goal inside 90 seconds by Marvin Brown, a 28th minute own goal and a third in added time by Robbie Matthews.

Holmes had made a number of changes from the side which had drawn 1-1 with Rushden & Diamonds at the weekend.

Mike Fowler (suspended) was replaced by Ian Herring, who made his first start of the season - as did Scott Bartlett at the expense of Darrell Clarke.

Marvin Brown, who netted a late equaliser against Rushden, retained the striker's berth in place of Matt Tubbs.

Holmes explained his decision to ring the changes.

"Over the weekend I just got worried that the boys you're going to ask to come on and do things for you at certain points in the season just aren't going to be ready to go.

"None of them were able to go the distance today but you've got to give them the time on.

"The Mike Fowler change was forced on us, but Marvin and Scott both needed some game time and I can say that others do too and they'll get their chance.

"What was nice is that the two goals we scored in the first half were exactly the two set-pieces we practiced the day before on the training ground.

"Ian Herring's long throw, Luke Oliver's touch and a finish from either Marvin or Matt Tubbs, getting on the end of it.

"The other one is a great ball by Ian Herring into an area that's difficult to defend. They're as likely in that situation to get a touch on it as we are and it only takes the slightest touch and it goes in!"

Holmes paid tribute to Matthews, whose 92nd minute goal proved the icing on the cake of a perfect evening.

"Robbie worked ever so hard. I've just been saying to Tommy how well I thought he'd done.

"I'm glad he got the goal because over the last few games he hasn't scored, but his workrate and his fitness have both been excellent.

"He really has handled the full-time training well."

The victory was City's fourth of the campaign and puts them back on the heels of the league's frontrunners.

"We're delighted with the start to be fair and no-one can take away from us the fact that, the games we've won, we've deserved to win."

Holmes added that it was good to let the football do the talking after a difficult week following the FA investigation into the post-match incident that marred the game with Rushden.

"It's not so bad for the players but, I must admit, while this has been going on, there's not enough football being talked behind the scenes and that frustrates me a bit but, fortunately, thanks to Tommy and Barry, the football was spot on when it mattered."

2:38pm Wednesday 19th September 2007

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