STEVE Claridge got out of his sickbed to watch Salisbury climb to second in the Evo-Stik South West with a 1-0 win at Yate Town.

A Chris Shephard penalty earned the Whites a fourth consecutive league win – a real tonic for manager Claridge who had spent two nights in hospital with pleurisy.

With Charlie Searle also unwell, understudy Nathan Ball had a solid game in goal as Salisbury resiliently protected their 42nd-minute lead.

Shephard, making only his second start after suffering an injury in opening week of the season, won the penalty himself with a weaving run which was deemed to have been unfairly halted by Charlie Hitchings. The ex-Weymouth man got up to beat Harvey Rivers from the spot.

First-choice goalkeeper Searle has joined Salisbury on full terms after securing his release from Havant & Waterlooville.

Searle had been on a season-long loan from the Hawks, meaning he could have been recalled at any time, but he is now solely registered with the Whites.

“The club is delighted with the move,” said a Salisbury statement. “Charlie has become a popular figure at the Ray Mac after being a member of the Wessex League title-winning team then returning this summer.”

Salisbury host fourth-placed Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday (7.45pm).