FOUR goals from the in-form Andy Grandfield ensured Salisbury Hockey Club's men ended the season on a high, leapfrogging their opponents to finish in the top half of the table.

With Dave Powell's name added to Salisbury's lengthy injury list, skipper Rob Selbie called upon Matt Knipe and Andy Cowling to bolster the side.

Salisbury started brightly enough with the return of Mark Casey down the right hand side testing the Blandford defence.

However, as in previous weeks, passes went astray allowing the Dorset side to push forward and take the lead, a visiting forward losing his marker and deflecting a free hit into the back of the net.

Salisbury worked hard against the run of play with Jon Powell and Scott Cowan in particular covering a lot of ground in the middle of the pitch.

The home side's equaliser was richly deserved, Grandfield's powerful short corner strike leaving the 'keeper with no chance.

Blandford, temporarily reduced to ten men while one of their number received treatment for an injury, still managed to contain Salisbury successfully.

At the other end, Tim Green saved two low short corner efforts and the trio of Selbie, James Bament and Dave Sturdy all had to put in some telling tackles to keep the visitors at bay.

Despite their sterling efforts, Blandford once again took the lead just before half time, when a midfielder evaded two challenges to fire in from close range.

Salisbury took full advantage of the break to regroup and it was a different side that came out for the second half.

Putting Blandford on the back foot from the off, Grandfield forced a save from the Dorset 'keeper and Dines saw his effort from the resulting short corner turned away.

A run by Casey run down the right set up Grandfield to level the scores with a decisive point-blank strike.

Blandford were undone when one of their defenders passed the ball to Grandfield at the top of the area, who moved the 'keeper and flicked into the bottom corner of the net to complete his hat-trick and hand Salisbury a 3-2 lead.

Their confidence boosted, the hosts then hit top gear.

A great pass by Dines picked out Ben Finlayson, who was clear on goal but whose shot lacked the necessary venom to trouble the Blandford custodian.

Finlayson made no such mistake shortly after when he slotted home the rebound following a good run and shot from Cowling.

Blandford had a player sent off late on for a hideous challenge on Jon Powell but by that stage, it was all Salisbury.

Grandfield continued to pepper the opposition 'keeper with shots.

He grabbed his fourth and Salisbury's fifth after a Jon Powell shot on the reverse allowed Casey through to set him up to complete the rout.