SALISBURY bounced back from the midweek defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough with a battling performance to overcome the full-timers of Billericay Town 1-0.

They protected their lead for 65 minutes - plus another six minutes added on.

Whites assistant manager Barry Blankley said: "We showed great resilience with everyone was defending for their lives.

"Everybody worked hard chasing back and making it difficult for them, and, to be fair, in the end we had the best chances to maybe have won it by two or three goals."

Salisbury goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer had to be quick off his line to deny the onrushing Matthew Game after only eight minutes, but the sides were locked in a midfield battle and neither produced efforts on goal until the 36th minute when Salisbury took the lead.

A free-kick on the left from ex-Bashley man Craig Davis into the heart of the Billericay six-yard area eluded everyone, including the keeper, and ended up in the net.

Two minutes later, the Whites could have established a comfortable lead when an Andy Cook free-kick was met by Aaron Cook, whose firm downward header brought the best out of keeper Paul Gothard.

Seconds later, at the other end, Town had a half chance when Bertie Brayley got clear but could only put his shot into the side-netting from an acute angle.

After the break Billericay's Robin Trott put a free header wide at the far post but then Salisbury's Robbie Matthews, having outstripped the visitors' defence, had his effort blocked by Gothard.

A bad clearance from the Town keeper on 78 minutes came straight back into his penalty area but Sean Cook was unable to control the ball and the chance was lost.

Four minutes later, as Salisbury began to create more chances, Leigh Phillips was only just wide of the target with a first-time effort.

At the end of normal time Salisbury had a good penalty appeal turned down when Cook appeared to have been up-ended in the box but, in a six minutes period of time added on, both sides could have scored.

On 94 minutes Brayley was through one-on-one with Sawyer but the keeper did well to keep out his effort.

Then, at the other end, Salisbury's Wayne Turk was denied in similar fashion by Gothard.

Blankley added: "If we play like we did today at Weston-super-Mare and for the first 70 minutes at Hampton on Tuesday, I really fancy our chances next Sunday at Slough in the FA Cup."