NICK Holmes was delighted to see his side pick up all three points away at fellow promotion hopefuls Welling United last night.

Whites were again without a number of key players through injury, but a determined display saw them fight back from a goal down at the break to win 2-1.

Second half goals by Robbie Matthews and a stunner by Luke Prince at the aptly named Prince's Park, secured their first victory in four games and their first goal for more than 400 minutes.

"I thought we deserved to win," Holmes told the club's website.

"We dominated every aspect of the game so it was a bit harsh to go in one-down.

"But we kept at it, kept doing what we're meant to do.

"We got a bit of a scabby goal to get back in the game, then got a worldie to win it!

"But it was no more than we deserved."

City were unlucky not to have been three goals up by the time the hosts, forced to play at Dartford's ground due to floodlight problems at their own ground, broke the deadlock.

Matt Tubbs fired just over the bar before having a superb strike deflected for a corner, while Matthews brought a good save out of Jamie Turner in the Welling goal.

However, Martin Carthy ghosted into the City box unmarked to head home Booth's cross on 25 minutes.

The goal was against the run of play - but seemed to sum up City's luck - or a distinct lack of it - lately.

Tubbs showed great skill to put Matthews in just before the break only for his shot to be deflected by the 'keeper for another City corner.

In added time, Tubbs was floored just outside the box, but Jon Beswetherick's well-struck free kick was a comfortable height for the custodian.

Matthews was harshly booked two minutes after the interval after accidentally colliding with the 'keeper attempting to meet Jon Bass' cross. Although Turner reacted by kicking out at Matthews, he escaped with just a talking to from the referee.

But Matthews was soon all smiles - netting his 12th goal of the campaign and his 31st for the club.

It was a scrappy affair - but they all count!

Danny Clay's shot had struck Michael Fowler in the face but as the ball bobbled loose, Matthews pounced to slam it home.

Tubbs was in inspired form throughout and minutes later almost made it 2-1, firing the ball across the face of the goal from an acute angle.

Matthews forced Turner to make another good save on 62 minutes heading Matt Robinson's cross goalwards.

Whites made a change on 67 minutes - on-loan signing Jerome Watt replacing the hard-working Beswetherick. And the Northampton Town youngster was soon involved.

A promising move linking Prince, Matthews, Watt, Clay, Robinson and Cook eventually came to nothing but City forced a corner moments later when Prince's free kick (awarded after Tubbs had again been on the receiving end of a hefty and unpunished challenge) saw Turner flap at the ball and was fortunate to concede only a corner.

However, Watt's cross eventually found Prince who sweetly struck the ball home from fully 35 yards, prompting wild celebrations by the City supporters among the crowd of 364.

Carthy received a deserved yellow card for again clattering into Tubbs and Matthews' free kick went just wide.

Good skill by Watt brought about another Salisbury free kick in a dangerous area - Aaron Cook's effort from Matthews' strike forcing another corner.

Six minutes from time, Tubbs should have netted the goal he so badly deserved but he fired just left of the target following a superb Matthews knock-down from Ryan Clarke's long kick.

Tubbs' snap shop on 88 minutes also just missed the target.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Welling thought they'd equalised but Kedwell's header was ruled out for offside.

Holmes added: "They've had one shot on target all night and scored while we've had eight in one half, so that shows they've done what we asked of them.

"It was good fun to see them win again."

Holmes added he was also relieved to see Whites finally break the deadlock after four games without scoring.

"When you think we could have gone in 4-0 up at half-time quite easily, you start to wonder where the goal's going to come from.

"Early in the second half we've had a good chance that's gone begging and even when we've gone 2-1 up we've had another two or three chances.

"We'll save them up for someone though, before the end of the season!"

City remain in second place in the table - ten points behind leaders Histon who they entertain on Monday (3pm).

Before that they head to Sutton United on Saturday.