SALISBURY FC manager Steve Claridge feels promotion is in hands of his side and theirs to throw away, after an excellent 3-1 win at Bishop’s Cleve last Saturday.

Looking at the Southern League Division One West table, the Whites may still only be seven points clear in second spot, but now have two games in hand on new new third placed team Evesham United, who they play this month.

This was after Bristol Manor Farm, the side who led the chasing pack since Christmas behind Salisbury, lost at play-off rivals Evesham.

Claridge said: “We are in stronger position after the weekend and I really think it is for us to throw away now.

“Teams below us will have to go a big run and win nearly every game to the end of the season and playing Saturday Tuesday every week makes that really tough.

He added: “We have to make sure we don’t lose to the teams who are chasing us and it we do that I can’t see why we won’t finish second. I think the pressure is on everyone else to catch us.”

This weekend, the Whites are at home to play off hopefuls Winchester City, a side who run very hot and cold and Claridge agreed.

The Salisbury boss said: “When we played them last time in the first half they were fantastic and in the second half they were not so good. For us it is very much we get the job done and another three points.”

Looking back on last week's 3-1 win at Bishop's Cleeve, in which Owen Howe scored the first and third and in between George Colson converted a penalty.

Claridge said: "It is a difficult place to go and the conditions were very tricky. We conceded a goal against the wind, but we then showed our quality to win the game. I was very happy with the performance."

After this week's home game a week on Saturday the Whites are on their travels to third place Evesham and then face Swindon Supermarine three days.

THE Southern League board has decided that the league match between Salisbury FC and Bideford, abandoned on Saturday December 2, shall be replayed.

The original game was halted just before the break after a fight in the players' tunnel following the dismissal of Whites' George Colson and Bideford's Billy Tucker. Salisbury had been leading contest 3-0 at the time.

The league have further decided that game will be conducted on the same basis as League Cup matches, which is a 50/50 gate share with Bideford with their travel costs covered.

Initially, Salisbury wanted to admit supporters for free, but are prevented from doing so by Southern League rules.

Following consultation with the league, Salisbury have decided that they will charge the minimum allowed price of £4 for adults, £1 for senior citizens and under-16s will go free.

The club's intention is simply that the costs of staging the match and the visitors' travel costs are covered by gate receipts.

Should there be any profits made from the game, Salisbury will donate their 50 per cent share to Salisbury Hospital.

As they do not want to be seen to benefit from having a game abandoned.

The date for the rearranged game has yet to be confirmed.