Salisbury suffered a second successive defeat at the Ray Mac against Chesham United, the away side winning two goals to one.
Salisbury took an early lead through Ronan Silva before Chesham fought back with goals from Jo Grant and Callum Adebiyi.
The Whites thought they had levelled in the second half, but the referee, Tom Ellsmore, and his assistant didn’t believe that Jordan Ragguette’s thunderous long-range strike had crossed the line after coming off the underside of the bar.
Brian Dutton made two changes to the starting lineup after the defeat away at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, with Luke Wilkinson and Tom Leggett coming into the starting 11.
The home side came out of the blocks fast, playing some neat and incisive football and took the lead in just the fifth minute when Ronan Silva was put in behind the Chesham back line by a good through ball from Josh Hedges. Silva cut back on his left foot, and his shot deflected beyond Ben Goode and into the bottom corner.
Salisbury continued to press and extend their lead but didn’t fashion many clear-cut opportunities. Hedges did well in the 21st minute to fashion a chance, but his shot from just outside the box was straight at Goode.
The game swang away from Salisbury just after the half-hour mark, when Chesham equalised from their first real attack of the game. Jo Grant was in the right place after Ryan Gosney palmed away a dangerous cross, but it fell kindly for Grant, who finished well to level things up.
Chesham now had their tails up, and Gosney was forced to make a good save as Omar Rowe’s effort looked destined for the back of the net with 43 minutes on the clock.
Chesham took the lead when Callum Adebiyi headed home from six yards after a corner was swung in from the right in the 44th minute, and they led two goals to one at halftime.
Salisbury pushed for an equaliser in the second half, and Ronan Silva came close on the hour mark when Goode tipped over his effort from the edge of the box.
Jordan Ragguette came the closest when, in the 79th minute, his shot from a full 30 yards cannoned off the underside of the bar, bounced, came back up, hit the bar again, and came out from goal. Goode then reacted well to prevent Craig Fasanmade from heading in the rebound.
Salisbury continued to press. Josh Hedges slipped a ball in for Rafa Ramos, but Goode did well to smother at the Salisbury striker’s feet after 83 minutes. Just a minute later, Fasanmade headed just wide from a good Ragguette cross.
Chesham almost grabbed a third at the end, but Gosney made a comfortable save from a headed effort from a freekick swung in from the left.
The away side saw the game out, winning by two goals to one, leaving the home supporters frustrated.
