Salisbury FC ended a run of two consecutive defeats with a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Winchester City.

Steve Claridge made one change to his side from Saturday, Tom Whelan returned from suspension to replace Luke Hopper, with skipper Kane O’Keefe dropping into a back four.

Salisbury made a bright start and were ahead after only two minutes.

The strike partnership of Owen Howe and Stuart Green linked up well with Green’s cross being turned into the net after Howe had found space in the box.

Winchester responded and saw skipper Jamie Barron put a shot over the top when well placed on the edge of the box, before Salisbury’s Lewis Benson put a shot wild over the bar following a good run.

Howe was showing good movement up front and found space in the box again after 13 minutes but was unable to convert Elliot Wheeler’s cross from the left.

The away side threatened again almost immediately, but Oli Bailey could only put his effort over following Dan Williamson’s teasing cross.

Howe was causing problems for the Winchester defence and he should have doubled his tally on 22 minutes but could only blaze over when well placed.

Shortly before the half hour mark though his second goal did arrive.

Tom Whelan did well to block Winchester’s attempt to clear and this allowed Benson to cross to Howe who had plenty of space to power his shot home.

That goal proved to be the last major goal action of the half for the home side, although the visitors could have pulled a goal back in time added on, but Bailey miskicked under pressure following a good cross from player-manager Craig Davis.

Winchester started the second half brightly and Bailey was the first to threaten but his shot was straight at Tom Roberts in the home goal.

The away side continued to push forward but Salisbury broke well after 55 minutes and Benson was unlucky to see his curling shot hit the outside of the post.

A Winchester goal was starting to look likely and it duly arrived just before the hour mark. Roberts did well to parry Barron’s free kick, but Adam Tomasso was quickest to react and tucked the ball home.

Salisbury seemed slightly shell-shocked by the goal and were becoming disjointed in possession, although they could have extended their lead when Claudio Herbert’s cross was headed wide by O’Keefe.

Winchester sensed an opportunity to equalise and after Simba Mlambo had put a shot high and wide, George Colson did well to block a Winchester shot following a goalmouth scramble.

Salisbury were sitting deeper and deeper inviting pressure on, although they could have extended their lead after 84 minutes.

Whelan broke quickly and fed Herbert whose cross-shot was parried by keeper Ryan Pryce into the path of the onrushing Zach Kotwica, but unfortunately the substitute did not have time to react and could only deflect it wide.

Two minutes later the Whites were made to pay when Josh Harfield bundled home from a corner to level the score at 2-2.

Winchester had a real spring in their steps and were unlucky not to complete a remarkable turnaround when Barron hit the crossbar with a good effort from the edge of the box.

The last action of the game saw O’Keefe put his header over the bar from 6 yards following Whelan’s corner.

Salisbury will be disappointed that a good first half performance did not lead to the claiming all three points and will be starting to become concerned by a run of form that has seen them claim only 6 points from the past six games.

They will look to bounce back to winning ways with two away games within the next week, first at Kidlington on Saturday before a Wiltshire derby at Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday.