Max Grossmith celebrated a maiden hat-trick as Salisbury shattered Bournemouth’s unbeaten Hampshire League with a 4-2 victory at Chapel Gate.
It was Salisbury’s second consecutive win and lifted them into third place in table, two points behind Andover, the only team to have won all three matches.
Salisbury’s early pressure was rewarded when Grossmith converted a Rory McTaggart short corner to give the visitors the lead inside the opening ten minutes.
The former Loughborough University student doubled his and Salisbury’s tally before Bournemouth clawed a goal back.
McTaggart’s fifth goal in three games – the Salisbury captain tucked home a rebound after his own drag flick had been saved – restored the visitors’ two-goal lead.
But Bournemouth were not out of the reckoning and cut Salisbury’s lead from a penalty corner to make it 3-2 by the break.
Bournemouth were reduced to nine men at one stage, but Salisbury spurned several chances to make the game safe before Grossmith completed his hat-trick.
McTaggart fluffed a late penalty stroke.
Matt McNeill notched a hat-trick and KES coach Callum Crichton got a fourth as Trojans II turned a 2-0 half-time deficit into a 4-2 win over Winchester.
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