Salisbury City are enjoying the view from the top of the Southern Premier Division after a hard-earned 2-0 home win over Merthyr Tydfil.

Watched by a bumper 761 Bank Holiday crowd, City produced their fifth clean sheet from six league games against a side manager Nick Holmes rated as the toughest they have met this season.

It took Salisbury 72 minutes to break the deadlock when striker Paul Sales backheaded the ball into the path of Craig Davis, who was brought down on a clear run at goal.

There was no red card issued, but Davis got up and coolly tucked the spot kick away.

Eight minutes later, Robbie Matthews made it two with his first touch of the game.

Fellow substitute Rene Regis played the ball down the right and Matt Tubbs squared it into the path of the towering former Eastleigh striker, who was left with a straightforward tap-in.

Salisbury had to soak up a lot of pressure against the Welsh side, who had topped the table on goal difference going into the game.

But once again Whites' back four were in dominant form and it was City who came closest to scoring in the first half when Sales' 18th-minute header and Tim Bond's follow-up were cleared off the line in quick succession.

Nine minutes earlier Whites keeper Kevin Sawyer had coped well with a Jason Welch shot that bounced awkwardly in front of him.

He then had to push away a Dave Williams free-kick after being yellow-carded for carrying the ball outside the area.

The league leaders will be looking to extend their unbeaten start at home to Yate this Friday (7.45).