EDDIE Perrett grabbed his first league goal as Salisbury continued their play-off march with a comfortable 3-1 victory over strugglers Paulton Rovers.

The striker-turned-wingback netted after Tom Whelan had given Whites the lead.

Leading scorer Tommy Wright then added a third on the hour mark.

Substitute Nathan Legge netted a consolation late on but Whites held firm to register a sixth straight win in the Southern League Division One South and West standings which sees them jump one place up to fourth.

Proceedings got off to a slow start and it was the visitors who threatened first as Ryan Radford fired at Alex Bass and then nearly poked home Solomon Wheatley's cross.

But a sleepy Ray Mac was awoken after 18 minutes. Justin Bennett's shot was deflected kindly into the path of Whelan who took a touch before providing an angled finish.

On the half hour mark, Bennett had two chances himself within a three-minute spell. The striker was denied by James Byrne's goal-saving challenge before sending a glancing header wide from Lewis Benson's swerving delivery.

A second goal was looming and it arrived on the stroke of half time. Perrett started a slick move on the left and after a series of passes got the return which he lashed home from six yards out, ending a 30-game wait for his first league goal.

The visitors, dwindling near the foot of the table, upped their game in the second period and if it wasn't for two fine saves by Bass, they would have been on level terms.

The keeper on-loan from Portsmouth firmly held Kailan Gould's header and then used his legs to divert Radford's shot in a one-on-one situation.

But Wright ended any hopes of a Paulton comeback when he chased down Bennett's flick-on and chipped the on-rushing Andrew Hannah.

Legge pulled one back in the 87th minute, which was sandwiched between Taurean Roberts and Benson both clipping the post.

Boss Steve Claridge said: "It wasn't very good, it was a win."

"Hardly anything to take out of the game. Tom Whelan was excellent and Elliot Wheeler was too, second half, but apart from that there wasn't a player out there who did themselves justice.

"You go from last week to this week, it's like chalk and cheese."

Whites, who have won 16 out of 17 games in all competitions, are at Hayes and Yeading in the Southern League Challenge Cup semi-final tomorrow night (7.45pm).