SALISBURY slumped to consecutive league defeats this week, with Steve Claridge’s side losing to Hayes & Yeading and Hartley Wintney.

On Saturday, the Whites travelled to London to face title favourites Hayes at their Skyex Community Stadium home.

Hayes, who had finished second last term and missed out on promotion after defeat to Farnborough in the play-off final, took an early lead via last season’s top goal scorer, Moses Emmanuel, who lofted the ball over the onrushing Gerard Benfield in the 19th minute.

There was late drama when two players saw red in injury time. Gillela was the first to receive his marching orders for two cautions, before Hayes’ Amos Nasha joined him down the tunnel for two yellow cards of his own.

Josh Wakefield almost snatched a point for the away side in the dying stages, but his curler from inside the box crashed off the crossbar.

Tuesday evening saw more goals when Hartley Wintney visited the Ray Mac. The away side took a first minute lead through Kyen Nicholas, quickly doubling their advantage by the fifth minute when Zidan Akers picked out his corner from outside the box.

Brandon Goodship halved the deficit in the 17th minute, but Salisbury were still second best.

Their guests restored their two-goal margin shortly before the break, with Nicholas adding his second, finishing up a swift counter-attack.

Salisbury turned up the pressure late on in the second half, but the away side weathered the storm to see out the three points.