Salisbury confirmed their play-off place with a narrow 1-0 win away at Plymouth Parkway. The match, played at the home of Exmouth Town, saw manager Brian Dutton make 2 changes to his starting lineup; Sido Jombati and Owen Dore replacing Richard McIntyre and Charlie Gunson.
Plymouth were the first team to have a sight of goal, Jack Bray-Evans shooting wide on 3 minutes, but Salisbury soon took control of the game and started to move the ball around nicely. After Ryan Penny had sent a shot well over the crossbar, the first good chance arrived for the Whites on 12 minutes. A long diagonal ball found Aaron McCreadie on the left-hand side and some neat footwork saw him lay the ball across to Noah Coppin, but he was unlucky to see his shot blocked by a combination of a home defender and Salisbury front man Dan Fitchett with the ball spiralling wide of the post. 2 minutes later they threatened again; this time it was Coppin touching the ball across to McCreadie, but his effort was blocked by the Parkway defence and the ball was scrambled clear.
Despite Salisbury having dominated the early proceedings, the home side started to get a foothold in the game and on 22 minutes Whites keeper Ryan Gosney was called into action; Callum Rose stinging his gloves with an effort on the half-volley after a free kick into the Salisbury box. 5 minutes later the gloveman could only watch as Parkway again threatened, but Michael Williams effort flicked the outside of the post after a ball into the box had only been half cleared. The chances died down as the half went on but shortly before half-time the Whites took the lead with McCreadie grabbing his first league goal of the season. A long free kick into the box was knocked down and the young midfielder showed great composure to take a touch and fire the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot to ensure that his side went in ahead at half time.
The second half saw Salisbury make a fast start and they could have doubled their advantage within 90 seconds but Josh Hedges was desperately unlucky to see his shot go narrowly wide after some clever footwork just outside the box. On 51 minutes there was chances at either end as firstly Fitchett’s shot was blocked for a corner, before Plymouth broke from the set piece and set Bray-Evans through on goal, but with only Gosney to beat the Whites keeper stood up big and made a fine block to keep his side in the lead. Salisbury continued to move the ball around nicely; on 55 minutes McCreadie’s ball set Fitchett away in the right channel and, after continuing his run he swept the return ball goalwards only to be denied his 2nd goal by a desperate Plymouth block.
A couple of changes on the hour mark saw a change in system for the Whites and on 69 minutes one of the substitutes nearly set up a second goal as Gunson’s deep corner found Jack Ball at the back post, home keeper Adam Parkes though getting down brilliantly to push the ball around the post. As the game went on Parkway sensed an opportunity to get back into the game and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. On 77 minutes substitute Dylan Jones fired well over the bar before 5 minutes later the same player shot wide when well placed just inside the area. As the game ticked towards the end of normal time a Plymouth corner saw the ball bounce around the box to no avail and, despite heavy pressure from the home side, Salisbury were able to hang on and clinch a vital 3 points on the road.
The Whites have a quick turnaround as they are back in action on Saturday 13th April, welcoming Harrow Borough to the Ray Mac for a 3 pm kick-off.
Team: Gosney, Leggett, Sommerton, Jombati, Ball, Dore(Smith), Penny, McCreadie, Hedges(Gunson), Coppin, Fitchett Unused Subs: Rutter, Robinson, McIntyre
