City's Scott Bartlett races down the wing during Monday's 2-0 friendly win against Finnish Division Two side Vasa IFK. Leigh Phillips and Matt Tubbs were on target for the Whites. DA7778P5SALISBURY City manager Nick Holmes was not best pleased after his side surrendered their nine game unbeaten run with a 2-1 home defeat by relegation-threatened Harrow Borough, writes Mike Turner.

Holmes, whose own side had flirted with the danger zone prior to registering an impressive sequence of results stretching back to mid-February, had urged his players to see out the season unbeaten.

"Despite what we said beforehand, the boys clearly didn't realise they were going to have a competitive match. We were 2-0 down by the time they did and it was then hard work for them."

Holmes added: "Harrow were far more ready. Our boys were happy to go out and play nice football, but the other team weren't going to allow them to do that."

The City boss said: "It was very frustrating. You need to get things out of seasons like these when you haven't done that well.

"I'd set them the target of going unbeaten until the end and I wanted them to finish the season thinking they'd achieved something.

"I saw some of our stronger players knocked off the ball far too easily early on and that set the tone. Maybe it hurt me more than it hurt them. I wasn't happy at all."

On Saturday, Whites head to Hendon for their final away game of the season before completing their fixtures at home to Wealdstone on April 30.

Monday evening's friendly against Finnish Division Two side Vasa IFK proved an entertaining encounter with the Whites emerging 2-0 winners. Leigh Phillips and Matt Tubbs both scored with second half headers.

The Finns had the chance to reduce the arrears in the final minute, but Ville Laakkonen blasted a spot kick over the bar.

"It was a good work out for the lads and is something we'd like to do more often," said Holmes.

"They're over here as guests of Southampton and we were happy to be able to welcome them here."

Both Kevin Sawyer and Andy Cook have signed extensions to their contracts keeping them at Old Sarum for the forseeable future.