THE WHITES got an early Christmas present last week with another three points at home to Beaconsfield Town.

First half goals from Whelan and Hopper gave the Whites a 2-0 lead going to the half time break, and as with the Wimborne game, Salisbury dominated the majority of the proceedings.

The home side produced the first good move of the match after just six minutes; Luke Hopper pulling the ball back to Tom Whelan, whose pass to Lewis Benson gave him a good opportunity, but the shot was just wide.

12 minutes later, the next attempt on goal came from a Whelan corner. Matt Partridge headed the ball across goal where Darren Mullings should have done better, putting his effort straight at the keeper.

Salisbury finally took the lead after 23 minutes, with another solo effort from Whelan.

The midfielder made his way across the box before unleashing a right foot shot which passed Beaconsfield’s keeper Ravan Constable before he could react.

Whelan was again involved two minutes later when his long-range cross shot was deflected just the wrong side of the upright.

On the half-hour mark the visitors’ Jordan Ajanlekoko found himself in space in the Salisbury box but he miscued wide.

Five minutes before the break Salisbury doubled their advantage when Luke Hopper shook off defenders and got in the clear, his finish going through the keepers legs to establish what looked a comfortable lead.

Just before the half-time whistle Beaconsfield’s Ajanlekoko had a second chance but sliced his header wide from Jerome Ecclestone’s cross.

As the final whistle approached, the Rams pulled a goal back in the 93rd minute.

From a break, Brendan Matthew was left one-on-one with Hallett, and slotted the ball home.

At the time of going to print the result left Salisbury third in the table, level on points with second place Weymouth having played a game more.

The Whites were scheduled to play Swindon Supermarine yesterday afternoon (December 26), after the Journal went to print on Christmas Eve.

Next up is another away fixture for the Whites, travelling to Poole Town on Saturday, December 29.

Salisbury will be hoping to better the score of the reverse fixture against the Dorset side.

They played each other in the Whites’s first home game of the season back in August, losing 2-1.

The Whites then start the new year with a home fixture against Frome Town on New Year’s Day.