THE promotion party is just getting started.

Salisbury FC clinched the Sydenhams Wessex Premier title after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Horndean on Thursday night.

Only a point was needed for Whites to be crowned champions and it looked like they were heading for that after a goalless opening 45 minutes.

But two goals in five second half minutes from Adam Kelly and a silky finish from Steve Walker sent Whites on their way.

Jamie White prodded home a third ten minutes from time as the 766 fans, who were planning a pitch invasion, were able to celebrate the title win three weeks early.

The win puts Whites on 92 points with six games left.

It is understood they will be presented with the trophy on Saturday, May 7 - the last day of the campaign - at home to Newport (IOW).

Although it won't be confirmed until next month by the FA, the Steve Claridge's men are set to be promoted to Southern League Division One South and West.

For Salisbury's fifth game in ten days, in what was switched from Five Heads Park to the Ray Mac following two postponements and one abandonment, Gareth Barfoot returned from a four-month lay-off.

He and White were drafted into the starting XI in place of Sam Wilson and Nathan Ball as part of two changes for SClaridge, two days after putting Hamworthy United to the sword.

The hosts did enough in the opening exchanges to break the deadlock but were slightly off colour.

They were missing the usual cutting edge in the final third as the long season was taking its toll.

George Colson went close with a free kick and then Tom Whelan skipped into the area, putting it on a plate for Sam Roberts whose shot from six yards was too tame to cause Derek Harding any bother in the Horndean goal.

Whelan tried to thread through White but the pass was too heavy for him.

With the Whites not taking their chances, Horndean were gifted a chance to score first on 34 minutes.

Mark Smith was set free on the right wing and he crossed for substitute Albert Egboh who attempted to audaciously volley home but, instead, got the technique horribly wrong and screwed his shot wide.

Just before the half-time whistle, a Whelan delivery evaded everyone as the period ended goalless.

The rain come pouring down after the restart and Elliot Wheeler tried to stab home Whelan's high ball into the box which was pushed away by Harding, who saw it late.

Horndean then had two clear-cut chances themselves with Lee Tigwell's cross being diverted behind and Egboh finding space but mistiming his short furthermore.

Down the other end, a breakaway move resulted in old boy Adam Kelly bundling the ball home.

And five minutes later Whelan picked out Walker at the far post, and he carefully watched the ball drop before lacing his volley into the bottom corner - a classy finish on a special night for the reformed club.

Claudio Herbert, who scored a fine goal on Tuesday, found some space on the right and cut inside onto his left foot which flew just over the top.

A third was coming and it was White who was the recipient on the 80th minute. He found room inside the area and instinctively rifled past Harding for a third.

Whites play their first of six remaining games at home to Brockenhurst on Saturday, where the players will be hitting the city afterwards, chasing 110 points which would be the highest number of points in the league since Pool Town won it seven years ago.

Salisbury: Barfoot, Colson, Walker, Wheeler (c), Perrett (Blake 74), Whelan, S Roberts, T Roberts (Rusher 73), Herbert, Kelly (Jarvis 73), White.

Subs not used: Demkiv, Wilson.

Referee: Alex James.

Att: 766.