Whitchurch 0 Salisbury FC 4

The Jam Boys got off to a nightmare start when after just 30 seconds Tom Whelan's 25 yard shot took a wicked bobble over the shoulder of goalkeeper Craig Alford who watched in dismay as the ball crossed the line for the opening goal.

A shell shocked Whitchurch immediately went into disarray as the ultra competitive Salisbury side ruthlessly chased every ball.

And it was from this high energy that the second goal came just five minutes later when Ali Brown's poor touch was picked off by Matt Jarvis who played through Sam Wilson, only for Scott Hassell to sweep across and clear for a corner.

Goalscorer Whelan floated the resulting set piece into the centre of the box and Stephen Walker was their to power home a tremendous header to double the away side's advantage.

Then came a moment of controversy two minutes later when the referee awarded ex-Andover winger Claudio Herbert a generous penalty following a collision with Tom Lockyer.

The decision prompted strong protests by the out-of-position left back, who appeared to have cleanly got himself between the advancing winger and the ball.

Jarvis stepped up for the spot kick and fired it low and hard into the bottom right corner, despite the best efforts of an outstretched Alford.

Whitchurch looked increasingly nervous in possession and frustration began to grow with Jack McCarthy getting a warning after a late challenge.

Lockyer, who was Whitchurch's standout player throughout the match, then prevented Salisbury's third goal with a brilliant last ditch challenge to deny Wilson who appeared to have acres of space in the heart of the box.

McCarthy was booked shortly after following another late challenge.

Salisbury continued to look for their fourth and created two golden opportunities for Walker who could have bagged a hat-trick of headers after getting on the end of two well placed corners.

Meanwhile Wilson looked lively in open play but his finishing was poor as he spurned several good chances.

The striker was involved again moments before half time after he was on the end of a horrific challenge by Cole Hinchcliffe whose two footed tackle earned him a straight red and a shove from an unhappy Wilson, who received a booking for his reaction.

Things looked bleak for the Jam Boys going into the break but they came out fighting in the second half, much to the surprise of the large Salisbury crowd.

Reece Rusher replaced Dave Perry and the winger was involved early on when he played in Matt Austin, but the Whitchurch captain scuffed his effort wide despite being in acres of space.

A complacent looking Salisbury side did not head the warning signs and Whitchurch should have pulled one back when Lockyer nicked the ball in midfield and produced a bursting run only to fire his effort on to the bottom right hand post.

Whitchurch looked completely in control despite being a man down and leading scorer Danny Phillips was unfortunate not to add to his tally on the hour mark after latching on to a chipped through ball.

However Salisbury keeper Gareth Barfoot rushed a long way to meet the striker and knick the ball from his feet before making a second crucial tackle on Taurean Manders.

Barfoot nearly ruined his good work moments later when he delayed a clearance only for Rusher to knick in and nearly punish keeper's lack of concentration, but the winger's effort was cleared of the line from a covering defender.

An agitated Steve Claridge, sitting with the away fans in the stand, called in some changes brining on Jack Maloney and Robert Mathews in place of Wilson and Whelan.

The changes revitalised Salisbury but they were then reduced to ten after 75 minutes when Danny Young was forced off by a shoulder injury, with the away side having used all three substitutions.

The high tempo continued however as bookings were awarded to both teams following several late challenges before Salisbury finished the game off with a fine goal from Mathews.

The striker climbed well to power Salisbury's fourth goal of the evening following some good play from Maloney down the right.

With Andover Town losing 4-1 away at Horndean the result move Salisbury seven points clear at the top of the Wessex Premier League although Town do have a game in hand.

Meanwhile Whitchurch maintain their previous position of 20th, one point ahead of bottom side Alresford Town.