WITH a full squad at his disposal, Salisbury Hockey Club men's skipper Rob Selbie was looking for a positive response to the previous week's disappointing defeat by Blandford.

He got just that, Salisbury bouncing back and climbing the table thanks to an important win over visiting Wimborne Wayfarers.

Although Salisbury enjoyed their fair share of possession during the opening exchanges and spent extended periods on the attack in the Wimborne half, chances were few and far between and the hosts only managed to test the Wayfarers custodian once in the opening 15 minutes.

However, Salisbury did look solid down the middle, with James Whittle and Scott Cowan controlling the game, supported by the defensive pairing of Dan Dines and Steve Booth.

Mark Casey and Jon Powell were both using their pace and skill out wide to pierce the Wimborne defence.

With half of the first period gone, Salisbury finally found the finishing touch that their good approach play deserved, as good work down the left side by Powell fed Casey, who neatly rounded the 'keeper and tucked the ball into the net.

Joe Ruggiero made it 2-0 to the hosts before the break, a great individual run and shot from the top of the area leaving the visiting defence in total disarray.

Wimborne's agony continued after the break as Salis-bury went back on the attack. Casey drove along the back line and cut back a lifted ball to Cowan, who rifled a volley in to the top of the net for 3-0.

Not to be outdone by his midfield partner, Whittle made it 4-0 with a powerful flicked short corner.

Having made the game safe, Salisbury then took their foot off the pedal and allowed Wimborne back into the game with a succession of loose passes, culminating in a scrambled goal.

A minute before time, Wimborne clawed another goal back through a powerful short corner into the bottom left corner.

It left the scoreline looking deceptively close, when Salisbury had in fact dominated 90-per-cent of the game to pick up a well-deserved win.

On Sunday, Salisbury hosted Marlborough in the semi-final of the Wiltshire Cup.

The home side started well, and despite going a goal down against the run of play, never looked unsettled.

They equalised on the stroke of half-time as Jon Powell forced the ball over the line.

The second half was all Salisbury, although the home side failed to take advantage of numerous chances and short corners.

With ten minutes to go, Andy Grandfield produced a moment of inspiration, lobbing the 'keeper from the top of the area, to make it two wins in two days and put the hosts through to the final.

Salisbury visit the Smallbrook Stadium on Saturday to take on bottom-of-the-table Isle of Wight(12pm).