SALISBURY head to Cirencester Town on Saturday having banked nine points out of nine over the festive period – against all odds.

“We’ve got half the squad missing and, possibly, there are no other teams in our league who would have won the games we've over the Christmas period,” said manager Steve Claridge, whose side have risen to second in the Evo-Stik South West.

Having beaten Mangotsfield 3-0 at home, Salisbury overcame a tricky hurdle 3-1 at AFC Totton on Boxing Day before riding their luck in a 2-0 home win over Wimborne Town – Danny Young and Stuart Green grabbing the New Year's goals.

“Wimborne will feel they’re unlucky – maybe they were – but we’ve been unlucky like that 20 times this season. We’ve worked hard on Monday and deserved our luck,” said Claridge.

"We were running on empty, but I had no one available to change it or freshen it up.

"That's not a game we would have won two months ago, so it just shows how far we've come.

"Wimborne are a good side, but it would be interesting, if several good players were taken out of their team, to see how they would get on!

“We've got players coming back now, so we'll be stronger. Tom Whelan returns for Saturday's game and we are hopeful Chris Shephard will be available soon."

Prior to Monday’s match a minute's silence was observed for supporter Keith Whitmarsh, to whom midfielder Green dedicated his goal.