HOCKEY: SALISBURY Hockey Club's men's team's fight for Hampshire Division One survival faltered slightly when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Portsmouth & Southsea.

However, with basement side Blandford also drawing and fellow strugglers Alder-shot & Petersfield both losing, there is still much to play for.

The side were again let down by their inability to convert chances and this was yet another case of two points lost rather than one won.

They made a perfect start, scoring inside two minutes. After winning their first short corner of the game, the one-two option resulted in Adie Rigg putting them in front.

Salisbury surged forward for the next 25 minutes but continued to gift possession in the last quarter of the pitch.

Andy Grandfield and James Stormont both made intelligent runs up front, but didn't get the support they needed.

On 15 minutes Salisbury were denied another goal when Rigg's penalty flick, awarded after Stormont had been clattered by the 'keeper, was saved by the Pompey custodian, diving at full stretch.

Their opponents never looked like scoring from open play, but in the second half they pushed more players up front and ten minutes into the half Andy Miles was adjudged to have deliberately fouled an attacker on the top of the D.

Even though the player still had three defenders and the 'keeper to beat, a penalty flick was awarded rather than a short corner.

Now back on level terms, Pompey were green-carded time and time again for pushing and using elbows but not once was a yellow card produced in an effort to put an end to it.

The injustice of it all proved ironic when Croxall saw yellow after his momentum took him into a defender after he had been tackled.

Salisbury continued to press forward. Charlie Yiangou worked a couple of openings and James Whittle had a great effort well saved.

Andy Miles pushed up for a late attack but was hit so hard from behind that he had to leave the field. Pompey were awarded the hit, not a Salisbury penalty flick.

On Saturday, Salisbury visit league leaders Wey-mouth. Andy Miles is expected to have recovered from his injury while Rob Selbie may train for the first time in a month but is unlikely to play any part in the game.

SALISBURY'S ladies were in stunning form when they put five past bottom of the table Wimborne without reply.

A good all-round performance was capped by Linda Scrace scoring a superb hat-trick and further goals from Chris Rowland-Jones and Lisa Lovatt saw them run out comfortable winners ahead of Saturday's trip to Bath where they take on top of the table Bath Buccaneers.