INSPIRATIONAL skipper Tom Morton celebrated his maiden club hat-trick as Salisbury gave their South League Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 survival prospects a timely boost with a 5-2 win over Camberley & Farnborough.

Two of Morton’s goals came from penalty strokes – as did Salisbury’s fifth from Rory McTaggart, which killed off a second half Camberley comeback, writes Mike Vimpany.

Salisbury calmed the visitors’ positive start by converting their first penalty corner – Morton being on hand to pick up the pieces after McTaggart’s drag flick had been beaten out.

James Hayward, jaded after a hectic 27-hour flight back from a cricketing Christmas in Melbourne, made it 2-0 before Salisbury got their first penalty flick.

Nick Easterbrook was denied a goal by a Camberley boot and Morton bemused the visiting keeper with a pin-point flick.

Salisbury were defending solidly as well as looking decent going forward and before the break had a fourth goal on the board – Morton’s penalty skills prevailing after the tiring Hayward had seen his shot blocked illegally.

Camberley didn’t lie down and the two goals they clawed back made for an anxious second period for the hosts.

But the puffing Hayward apart, Salisbury had more left in the tank – McTaggart making it 5-2 from a third penalty stroke awarded by another illegal stop on the line.

The win lifted Salisbury above the bottom two but needing to win Saturday’s High Noon clash with Southampton University at Wide Lane to stay clear of trouble.

Meanwhile Salisbury girls’ under 14s enjoyed a 10-1 trouncing over Andover on Sunday. Five goals from Ailsa Rauh, Georgia Dunlop’s hat-trick and Tay Stoppani’s brace completed the rout at John Hanson Community School.