Defeat on the road in Kent leaves the Whites hovering just above the relegation places

Salisbury suffered another narrow defeat on the road as they threatened to come back twice, but it wasn’t enough to pick up an all-important point in their fight for safety.

The hosts were on top of proceedings in the first quarter of an hour, creating a handful of chances on their own accord as well as capitalising on a lapse of concentration at the back.

Tonbridge took the lead in the 13th minute off the back of a brilliant save by Will Buse, which was finger-tipped clear for a corner, which was later swung in and headed in at the near post.

The Angels almost doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark, but the referee deemed Sommerton to be fouled as he tried to clear an initial shot off the goal-line.

Salisbury gradually grew into the half, however, enjoying longer spells of possession and testing the Tonbridge number one.

Coming out after the break, the Whites knew they needed to turn up the heat to score past a rigid Tonbridge defence.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the hosts went 2-0 up within five minutes of the second half with a sumptuous strike into the top left-hand corner after the Tonbridge forward cut in onto his left foot.

Salisbury were not down and out, however, as Noah Coppin was subbed on and made an immediate impact within a few minutes, with Jolliffe picking the ball up down the right flank and playing a lovely, weighted pass down the line to Odokonyero, who easily crossed to Coppin to slot home.

Despite pulling one back, the Angels set-pieces continued to threaten the Whites net, and after six minutes of Coppin’s finish, Tonbridge got their third from another corner.

But, Salisbury were able to score after another tactical tweak, as Jolliffe was subbed off and replaced at right-back by Ollie Morgan, who slipped Hedges through the Angels' defence and squared the ball into the path of Odokonyero to tap into an empty net.

The result leaves the Whites just one spot above the relegation places, with Bath City still mathematically able to catch them, though Salisbury do have a superior goal difference. Once again, Salisbury's season could go down to the final game of the season to ensure their position in the National League South

Up next for Brian Dutton's side is a home match with Horsham on Saturday (18th April) at the Ray Mac. Kick off is at 3 pm.