Salisbury City: Scott, Udoji, Clarke, Dutton (c), Hart, Lewis, McPhee, Sinclair, Frear (Brett 86), Fitchett (Ademeno 78), White

Subs not used: Puddy, Matthews, Clark

Scorer: Tom Kavanagh OG (57)

Att: 740

CONFERENCE south leaders Salisbury City kept their promotion bid ticking along with a fifth straight win at the Ray Mac.

An own goal in the 57th minute from Tom Kavanagh separated the two sides and gifted the leaders a clean sheet with another essential three points.

Although Chris McPhee will claim the winning goal, his strike clipped the heel of Kavanagh and it trickled into the top corner.

During a scruffy start, Jamie White nearly recorded his team’s quickest ever goal, tantalizingly tapping Stuart Sinclair’s cross wide after 17 seconds.

But Sutton remained consolidated and focused, which reflected why they’re unbeaten in their last six outings, but that hasn’t impacted their precarious position in Conference South.

Apart from a few half chances – which were few and far between – both teams were living off scraps, until Anthony Riviere nearly edged the visitors in front but instead slashed the side netting. As things were heading, a draw was looking inevitable, but that all changed in the 57th minute after a well-worked set-piece was dispatched by the hosts.

Theo Lewis’ quick-fired delivery was met at the near post by a peering McPhee, whose ferocious drive struck the heel of Kavanagh, and subsequently ended in the empty net.

The league’s top scorer White had two chances to double his side’s lead, but marginally missed the target with both headers.

While Sutton’s best opportunity to pinch the leveller came in stoppage time when they were turned down a big penalty appeal after Leroy Griffiths theatrically fell to the ground, but nothing was given and Salisbury kept onto their two point gap at the top.

The Whites head to AFC Hornchurch on Saturday (3pm).