Leigh Phillips expresses delight at levelling the scores. DA5051P10A VIRTUOSO performance from Leigh Phillips helped Salisbury City record their first win in five games, ironically against Hastings United, the last side they beat, writes Ryan Lovejoy.

Preferred to Adam Wallace in attack, Phillips scored City's first on 25 minutes before making Matt Tubbs' two second-half goals.

Tim Bond made his debut at centre-half after signing on loan from AFC Bournemouth, while fellow new boy John Cant, from Forest Green Rovers, was on the bench.

Manager Nick Holmes was grateful for the two additions in the midst of a selection crisis.

Glenn Howes, Josh Thomas and Wayne Turk were all suspended, Michael Cooper was out injured and Stuart James had left to pursue his journalism career.

Holmes paid tribute to Phillips and Bond: "Leigh led the line really well and held the ball up to bring others into the game, which is what we asked of him.

"Tim was a bit nervous to start with, but he grew in confidence as the game went on. Hastings had tall strikers and he acquitted himself well."

Skipper Scott Bartlett had an early effort headed off the line by Jimmy Elford and Craig Davis almost reached a Bartlett cross, but it was Hastings who took a tenth minute lead when Ricky Spiller crossed and Carl Rook tapped in with the Whites defence looking for an offside.

Tubbs wasted a one-on-one and a Phillips header was well saved, but the popular striker equalised with a diving header from Steve Strong's cross after 25 minutes.

Craig Davis' long throws caused problems, and from one Phillips had another effort deflected wide.

Goalkeeper Greg Nessling saved a Davis header before Tubbs scored following a Davis throw which had been helped on by Phillips in injury time.

After the break, Bond nodded over and then failed to connect with Gary Funnell's free kick, while a Tubbs header was punched to safety.

At the other end, Simon Stickney almost caught Kevin Sawyer off guard with a long range effort that cannoned off the crossbar, before Tubbs notched his second with Nessling scrambling in the last minute.

Ryan Peters still had time to pull one back to make the scoreline respect-able, but City held on for three points.

Holmes said: "Any win is a good win. The performance wasn't brilliant in the second half, but it was very positive in the first and we could have gone in at half time further ahead. When you haven't won for four games it's important to get three points."