IAN Saunders did not view yesterday's 3-1 home victory over Didcot Town as a case of revenge.

After losing the away fixture 4-0 in Oxfordshire in August, the Citizens boss saw it as more of an indicator of how well his side has evolved.

“Seven weeks ago we got pummelled 4-0 by ten men, so to win with a relatively similar squad shows how far we’ve come,” he said.

“We’re not the finished article yet, but we’ve got a real good group of lads here and we’re getting there.”

The early signs weren’t great for Winchester when Jordi Mulvany’s 45-yard free-kick freakishly sailed over everyone, including City goalkeeper Lewis Noice, to give the visitors a sixth-minute lead.

“You could have heard a pin drop when that one went in. We were stunned,” admitted Saunders.

The reaction, though, was just what the City boss ordered with two goals arriving on the brink of half-time.

Howard Neighbour levelled from Joe Briggs’ 42nd-minute cross and, just two minutes later, Andy Jenkinson pounced after 'keeper Leigh Bedwell had been unable to hold Sam Wilson’s effort.

Losing defender Jamie Ford to a suspected broken toe at half-time was a setback, but Ross Bottomley proved a highly capable replacement on his return from injury, weighing in with a couple of mighty tackles.

Saunders made another change when Craig Feeney replaced Wilson up front and it was the sub who made the points safe on 85 minutes, racing onto Stuart Green’s through ball and slotting it under the ’keeper.

“We were much more positive second half and passed the ball with more urgency,” said Saunders. “Sam Wilson hit the post before he came off and we had another couple of decent half-chances.

“I’d have been even happier if we’d matched their 4-0 scoreline, but we’ve come a considerable way in the last six or seven weeks.”

The result lifted City to 13th in the Southern One South & West with an away test to come at Shortwood on Tuesday.

*SALISBURY had most of the possession but took none of the points in a 2-1 defeat at Slimbridge.

Justin Bennett had a goal disallowed and hit the bar in the first five minutes, but the scoreline remained goalless at half-time.

Two goals arrived right at the start of the second period with Jack Twyman’s opener for Slimbridge rapidly cancelled by the Whites' on-loan Forest Green forward Olly Mehew.

But on 50 minutes Lee Smith restored the home side’s lead and, try as they might, Salisbury couldn’t summon up a reply. Brandon Mundy had a penalty shout waved away and defender Calum Brockway headed against the bar.

Steve Claridge’s Whites, down to tenth in the Southern One South & West, hit the road again to North Leigh on Tuesday looking to improve on a dismal record of four defeats from five away league games