SALISBURY kept up the pressure on their nearest rivals in the battle for an all-important second or third place finish with a 3-0 victory over Shortwood United on Saturday.

A double from Taurean Roberts and Tommy Wright's strike saw Whites ran out comfortable victors at Meadow Bank.

But with third-placed Tiverton and second-placed Taunton both winning, Whites are still one and three points behind both, respectively.

The visitors made an ideal start after breaking the deadlock on three minutes.

Roberts crossed from the left and his cross drifted in off the far post.

Shortwood slowly started to come back into the game and enjoyed possession, but there was little penetration.

Twice Kane O'Keefe missed good chances to double Salisbury's lead while Steve Davis miscued badly from Shortwood's only real chance of the half.

Within five minutes of the restart, Whites doubled their lead as a fine through ball was perfect for Wright who calmly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper Josh Langley; his 31st league goal.

Roberts headed narrowly wide before Salisbury's third arrived on 67 minutes. A long cross found Roberts in the six-yard box and he had the simplest of headers.

And things could have been even worse for Shortwood as Langley dropped a corner that bounced inches wide of his post and Roberts fizzed a shot inches wide of the upright as he missed out on a hat-trick.

Whites have four games to go, starting with Wantage Town at home on Saturday (3pm).

The teams which finish second or third will get the home advantage in the play-off semi final on Wednesday, April 26.

WHITES FINAL FOUR FIXTURES:

H Wantage Town - April 8

A Mangotsfield United - April 15

H Wimborne Town - April 17

A Bideford - April 22