A SEASON-best Conference South crowd of 1,920 - nearly 150 more than City had attracted for the visit of champions Histon the previous month - turned out in glorious sunshine for the eagerly awaited second leg.

The hosts shuffled the pack slightly - first leg goalscorer Robbie Matthews starting upfront in place of the injured Paul Sales, and midfielder Danny Clay, now recovered from the double whammy of a foot injury and a virus, recalled at the expense of Matt Holmes.

Salisbury were keen to make an early impression - Matt Robinson's 11th minute strike being stopped by Blues' keeper Andy Young at the expense of a corner.

Quickly taken, City again pressed - Young punching clear for another corner. This time, Luke Prince's cross was helped on by Clay to City's top scorer Matt Tubbs, who fired wide.

But Bishop's were soon on the attack at the other end and City skipper Aaron Cook was forced to clear after Ryan Clarke had failed to gather Gareth Gwillim's long throw cleanly.

Tubbs went closer still on 17 minutes with a lively shot on the turn, however, a top notch finish 60 seconds later put City in front for the first time in the tie.

Clarke's long kick was headed on by Matthews and Tubbs fired home his 29th goal of the campaign.

However, once again, a lead was short lived.

Bishop's broke forward and despite the initial pass looking offside, there was no doubting the quality of the finish.

Max Porter linked well with Pearson and Tim Langer before firing past Clarke.

Whites remained positive and closed the half on top.

Tubbs' twisting header was easily held by Young, before the ball flashed wide of the target after Matthews had risen to meet Scott Bartlett's cross.

In added time, a Bartlett shot following more good build up play involving Mike Fowler, Prince and Tubbs, sailed over the bar.

The Blues were first out of the traps after the break, Roy Essandoh heading wide from Porter's corner.

Fingernails were bitten to the quick as Bishop's sensed it could yet be their day.

Clarke performed heroics on 62 minutes to deny Pearson, who had raced through to seize upon an underhit back pass by Clay.

Craig Edwards should have done better after a goalmouth scramble, but thumped the ball into the ground - the bounce taking it over the bar with the net gaping.

The arrival of Tommy Widdrington helped calm City's nerves, but still the tie was too close to call.

Both sides went for it as extra time loomed ever closer.

Pearson saw a shot deflected for another Bish-op's corner on 79 minutes, while at the other end, Tubbs' twisting header whistled just over the bar.

Tubbs was again at the heart of the action four minutes from time.

After being brought down, he latched onto Robinson's pass from Prince's free kick, but again the ball was scrambled clear.

There was still time for Blues to steal it and Clarke had to be alert to claim Porter's shot, albeit at the second attempt, after Robinson had only half-cleared Gwillim's cross.

But the mighty Whites showed their true colours in extra time.

Substitute Marvin Brown, on for Tubbs, helped inject fresh impetus into City's attack.

Bishop's committed men forward, but Salisbury restored their lead ten minutes in, Brown's clever flick putting Matthews in for his second goal of the tie.

City had the ball in the net moments later when Brown thought he'd beaten the offside trap as Matthews returned the compliment.

However, Brown was booked for putting the ball into the net despite claims he had not heard referee Farries' whistle due to the noise from the joyous City supporters.

Brown produced more fireworks in the closing minutes, holding the ball up well before freeing Fowler, who picked the perfect moment to score his first goal in a Whites shirt to help see them into Sunday's final.