STRIKER Matt Tubbs, who was freed by Dorchester in order to make room for the return of Danny O'Hagan, has been given a two-year contract by Salisbury after proving a big hit at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.

The 19-year-old former AFC Bournemouth and Bolton Wanderers forward scored both goals in the White's 2-0 home victory over Corby Town in their Dr Martens Eastern Division game at the weekend.

His success at Salisbury has come as no surprise to Magpies chairman Eddie Belt.

"We rated him highly and I am sure he will score goals in the lower league," said Belt. "But I'm not sure he would score them in the Premier Division because, as we have found, the gap is huge.

"At the time we let him go we felt we needed someone to give us more physical presence in attack and Danny has come in and done exactly that."

Meanwhile Salisbury's Aaron Turner, who is still registered as a Dorset Premier League player with the Magpies after starting the season in Dorchester Reserves, is being allowed to go on loan to Wessex League Lymington & New Milton.

Former Dorchester star Tommy Killick, now the White's assistant manager, said Turner, who has been mainly on the subs' bench since moving to Salisbury, remained very much part of their plans.

"He'll be available to play for them in the event he's not involved with us," said Killick. "There's no suggestion that were closing the door on him, but numerically it's difficult at the moment because of the size of the squad we have got - and in particular the forwards."

He said Turner realised he had to improve his fitness and although he was taking steps to do that, he also needed to be playing matches regularly.

Magpies second team boss Phil Simkin said he was disappointed to hear that Turner was going to Lymington.

"I thought with all the players they have been signing lately they might let him go and I am sure if they did he would come back to us," said Simkin. "But they have been quite clever because they obviously want to keep tabs on him and wouldn't want him coming back to us."

* Dorchester have been told unofficially that the Avenue Stadium easily meets Conference standards following an inspection last week by former Wycombe chairman Brian Lee.

"It doesn't look as though anything needs doing and things like the floodlight rating were way above what is required," said Belt. "The next stage is to supply them with copies of our accounts for their approval."