BASINGSTOKE Town kicked-off off their home pre-season campaign with a crushing 6-2 victory over Salisbury at the Ark Cancer Charity Stadium.

Strikers George Hallahan and Aaron Redford both scored twice as Terry Brown’s young chargers showed the future looks bright for the Dragons, if this performance is anything to go by.

Town cruised to victory over a side tipped to be among the pace setters in the Southern League Division One South and West Salisbury started really well and took the lead five minutes into the contest.

This was after a free-kick from the right delivered by the excellent Lewis Benson was deflected into his own net by Tamille Roach.

Town responded by switching their formation as captain Matt Partridge was pushed up into midfield and from then on the Dragons roared back.

They levelled things after 14 minutes as a great run by superb centre half Robert Atkinson set up the lively Redford to fire home in off the post.

Just four minutes later, Town took the lead as Richie Whittingham released Hallahan to score.

It soon became 3-1, as Redford skipped into the penalty area and was tripped by Ashton Leigh.

Referee Mark Derrien pointed straight to the spot and Redford made no mistake.

Town now looked likely to score every time they got the ball and they added a fourth, as Sam Deadfield intercepted a back pass , beat one player and fed Hallahan, and he netted his second of the game.

Soon after, the striker was replaced by Aaron Jarvis and he linked up well with Deadfield forcing Charlie Searle into a save, just before the break.

Salisbury’s manager Steve Claridge, who spent the first 45 minutes sitting in the stand, certainly had plenty to say to his players.

The visitors started the second half the better, but it did not last long as Redford was denied a hat-trick by an excellent save after being set-up by Charlie Kennedy.

A lovely move started and ended by Roach saw a defender block his shot.

Town then scored twice in as many minutes to extend their lead to 6-1.

Some sublime skill from Jarvis saw him loft the ball over the head of Salisbury captain Elliot Wheeler and then lift the ball over to Whittingham, who met the ball on the volley for the goal of the game.

Town’s sixth followed shortly afterwards as Whittingham’s corner to the near post was met by a brilliant bullet header from Partridge.

In the final 10 minutes of the game the home side so nearly scored a seventh as sub Ashley Artwell’s cross was met by Jarvis, but his shot cannoned off the crossbar.

The visitors then scored a late consolation goal as Tommy Wright headed in Benson’s corner.

Jarvis had one last shot for the Dragons, but Searle managed to tip his effort just over the bar.

After the game Town boss Brown could not hide his delight and said: “I felt we had a really nice balance today and scored some good goals which were wasted in pre-season. We are not going to get carried away as it is only one game, but I am sure our fans enjoyed this one.”

Next for Town in their pre-season campaign is a trip to Alton on Tuesday night, before another home game on Saturday against Reading’s under-21s.