SALISBURY manager Nick Holmes returned to the UK to see his team put behind them a run of three successive defeats by winning 3-1 at Chelmsford City.

Holmes said afterwards: "I am taking in three games on this visit and will be back in October for a short period. As the season progresses I hope to be back more often and for longer spells at a time, but in the in the meantime the team is in safe hands with Mark Kelly in charge.

"Supporters have to be patient, however, while the players adapt to new playing methods, and I am really interested in making progress over whatever period of time it takes should it be two, five or ten years.

"If supporters thought we would come into this league and win the majority of games I think they need their heads examined! From my experience, instant success can often mean instant failure."

The Whites came under early pressure but the most serious threat on goal came on 34 minutes when goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer somehow got down to save a Liam Hopkins drive from close in.

Up until that point the home side had had the majority of play but then Salisbury began to make inroads with Glenn Howes trying an ambitious volley and Craig Davis firing a 25-yard free kick at home keeper Jamie Lunan before they took the lead on 39 minutes.

A pin-point cross from Matt Holmes found Matt Tubbs at the far post whose header across the box and gave Lee Phillips his chance to nod home.

Salisbury came out the more positive after the break and it was not long before they doubled their advantage. On 48 minutes Holmes again delivered another superb cross that Phillips met with a firm header forcing Lunan to parry into the path of Howes who did the rest.

Eight minutes later the game should have been beyond Chelmsford when a suicidal back pass let in Tubbs for a calm finish for Salisbury's third. And as the Whites pressed their advantage a Steve Strong floated effort hit the bar on 63 minutes with Tubbs' shot from the rebound bringing a classy save from Lunan.

Sixteen minutes before the end a Davis corner found Aaron Cook whose header at the far post was cleared off the line and after Sawyer had made a point-blank stop from Chelmsford's Gary Ansell, Strong saw another good effort at the other end pushed over the top by the keeper.

Two minutes into time added on, Andy Douglas plundered a consolation for the home side but just before the final whistle Salisbury could have conceded a second when Steve Bennett could only steer his effort from two yards at a relieved Sawyer.